I listened to this book on audio and maybe that was my problem, but I felt like this book was a little confusing to listen to at first and I had a hard time getting into it. Honestly I probably should have DNFed this book but I wanted to see what happened.

I felt like overall, the book was rushed and predictable once I got into it and I was definitely ready for it to be over.

I am giving this 2.5 stars, but round up to 3 for netgalley.


Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for the gifted copy.

A secret society at an elite private school starts having members die mysteriously a group of the society decide to solve what is going on before they end up dead next.

This one had an interesting premise but felt kind of similar to other thrillers and a bit predictable. The writing on this was easy to follow and was engaging but the characters were kind of flat which kind of left me not caring what happened to them. This one was entertaining but a bit forgettable. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy is a young adult thriller novel that has a touch of slasher vibes from horror movies. The story in Win Lose Kill Die is a fast paced one told from the point of view of an unreliable narrator.

Those that attend the elite Morton Academy are overachievers that are already guaranteed into the colleges of their choice after graduation. But at Morton there is the elite of the elite at the school who are asked to join the secret society known as Jewel and Bone.

At the center of the secret society there is the “head girl” but no sooner than one is named that student is murdered. Liz and her group of friends Taylor, Kat, Marcus and Cole find themselves investigating just what is going on at the academy before they end up the next victim when yet another murder occurs shortly after the first.

Win Lose Kill Die by Cynthia Murphy was what I’d call a solid young adult thriller novel but one that wasn’t without a few flaws. The story is one that is fast paced which leads to not a whole lot of character development with the action pushing the plot along so I can’t say I wouldn’t have liked a bit more. The ending is a decent twist to the tale but also one that didn’t overly surprise me either so when said and done I rated this one at three and half stars and would give the author another read someday.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

YA is not my usual preferred reading but I was drawn to this book by the title and summary - it didn't disappoint! Maybe I need to be more open to YA!!! This definitely wasn't around when I was in high school...

Such a great YA thriller. If you love the wild chase of movies like Scream, books/movies like There’s Someone in The House, read this! When you have to figure out who the killer is as the bodies stack up…

Review ⭐⭐⭐/5 (3-3.5)
*Win Lose Kill Die* by Cynthia Murphy is a fast-paced thriller set in an elite boarding school. A series of murders targeting the Head Girls at the school leave a group of friends determined to find out who the killer is—and time is running out before they’re next on the list.

>> What I loved: Sometimes you want a quick, fun, entertaining read—and this book definitely hits that mark. The boarding school setting added a cool dark academia vibe, complete with a secret society.
>> What I didn’t love: Unfortunately, I guessed the killer from the jump so the reveal wasn’t particularly exciting by the time I got there. A lot of the characters felt somewhat one-dimensional, which made this read a bit difficult for me personally, as this was a character-driven plot without much exterior action. While the story was told primarily from one perspective, complemented by occasional chapters from the killer, I think it would have been more interesting if it had been told from multiple perspectives since there were so many different characters.

I could see a lot of my students who love murder mysteries and thrillers having a great time reading this book, and I think it’s a great contemporary addition to any Young Adult collection.

Acknowledgments & Disclaimers*
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Cynthia Murphy, and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

Win Lose Kill Die is a fast past thriller that hooked me right from the start. Slasher vibes of old horror movies kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages. The characters are complex and the twisty plot line kept the surprise element high! I loved the setting of Morton Academy and the rich history of the school. Secrets, rivalries and murder mysteries all come together in this fantastic dark academic novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

Overall, this is a fast-paced, action-packed YA mystery and psychological thriller that is perfect for those seeking a gripping page-turner with a twisty ending.

I don't know why I don't learn my lesson regarding YA stories. 99 times out of 100 the drama and actions of these young adults just hits me wrong and it's hard to make authentic and likeable characters. I don't know when I got to be such an old, cranky person when it comes to YA viewpoint, but that's where I am. So, back to this story. It was perfectly fine, twisty and a bit ominous. If you like this genre - YA combined with thriller aspects - you'll love it. For me, I'm just gonna go watch out my window so I can yell at the kids to get off my lawn.

This book was thrilling and the ending was excellent! The book takes place at the prestigious Morton Academy boarding school. All the girls want to be the Head Girl and all that comes with that title. That title also comes with a drawback, someone is killing the Head Girls. The private school setting is one that always gives a great creepy mysterious backdrop for drama and mystery.
This is a good YA mystery that was unpredictable and kept me guessing.

“There’s a sudden sense of wrongness in the air, it’s almost tangible. I can feel it.” This is pretty much how I felt right from the beginning. The author wastes no time placing the readers in the mind of a serial killer as students at the prestigious Morton Academy keeping meeting mysterious deaths. Just like the students in the book, the reader is left to wonder who is behind these horrific deaths.

Thrills and chills on every page as the students try to uncover the mystery of deaths that have plagued the school for decades. A wonderfully suspenseful novel that will keep you on edge until the end.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. It read like the script of Riverdale, which was a horrible show. I think this is definitely tailored toward a tween age group.

I did not like this book. It felt like there was no point to it. I didn’t like the characters. I didn’t enjoy the writing. There were superfluous descriptions. The teenagers called each other “honey”. That probably bothered me the most. I thought the murderer was incredibly obvious the entire time but didn’t want to believe it would be that easy to figure out. The book was a quick, easy read, so that was good.

This book is definitely for the younger crowd.

It was quick read and kept you interest throughout.

As an older adult I found it a little more predictable but I think Middle Grade/YA readers will love it.

Will be recommending especially to those kiddos who are intimidated by larger books with insanely long chapters.

I love a good murder mystery! This one did start off slow, but around the 30% mark I was flying through. I had my initial suspicion and was pretty set on it being that most of the time. However, there were times where the author almost convinced me it was someone else.

The reason for the 3 stars was because it was really cheesy most of the time and I was correct from the start.

I feel like this has genre needs a little refreshing and this book was lost in the MANY that have the same premise

This captivating book kept me guessing from start to finish, blindsiding me with its unexpected twists. While it delves into familiar tropes of elite private schools—complete with drinking, parties, and secrecy—the storytelling is impressively executed.

I found myself deeply invested in the characters, intrigued by unanswered questions surrounding Liz's mysterious summer and the alarming number of student deaths at Morton Academy. The enigmatic Jewel and Bone society added an extra layer of intrigue.

Every time I thought I had pinpointed the killer, the plot threw me a curveball, keeping me second-guessing until the very end. It's a riveting mystery with just the right amount of romantic intrigue, making it a perfect read for young adult fans who enjoy a thrilling blend of mystery and romance.

Characters were terribly annoying that I did not care to finish the book. It's unfortunate since the summary sounded right up my alley.

this was such an incredible book! i am so thankful to netgalley for letting me read it early. it was just a pure delight and i think everyone should read this one!!!

I teach middle school and I often read a book before I put it on the shelf for my students to be safe. This one was excellent! It captivates and pulls you in from the start and I cant wait to share this with my students. I like to think they are a spooky bunch so anything I can find to encourage more reading, I definitely get them!