The Dead Girl Under the Bleachers

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS by Donna Zadunajsky in exchange for my honest review.***

3.5 STARS

THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS opens with a murder, but we do not know the name of the victim or the perp. The dead girl is presumably one of three high school seniors, Rachel the nice girl without a spine, Laura the outcast and Scarlett the mean girl. Secrets permeate THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS, not just with the teens, but some of their parents.

Rachel and Laura were both likable and easy to imagine as girls in any American high school. The story has a number of bad guys, so sociopathalogical that they didn’t feel real. Scarlett, her boyfriend Kyle and her stepmother Lianne were over-the-top awful. With the dysfunction in Scarlett’s family, giving her some humanity would have been easy.

I had a lot of theories about victim and perp and was completely wrong. Being caught off guard is part of the fun of thrillers. I wish the end of THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS also felt logical and within the realm of possibilities and reality.

THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS makes a fun beach read or any time.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honesty review.

Wow! This book was great! It was full of twists and turns that kept me reading. Normally in mystery books I can figure out the ending, but in this book I didn’t figure it out until very close to the end. Even then, I still didn’t figure out the whole ending.
I really enjoyed how this book was told in the perspective of the three girls. It was really interesting to see each of the girls’ sides of the story. I also really liked how you could see the characters’ growth throughout the story. I loved how confident Laura became, how Rachel became her own person that makes decisions, and especially how Scarlet was starting to realize she could change. I also enjoyed how the book wasn’t a romance book, but it did have hints of romance blossoming in it.
I do wish we could’ve seen a little bit more about how Rachel lived and how her whole family was. We saw things about her mom, but that was pretty much it.
Overall I really liked this book and would recommend it to mystery lover or someone who just wants a good read!

I received this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review. I really enjoyed this book. I felt like there were a few things that threw me off throughout the story, especially ones where the characters didn’t act like you would expect them to. There are several very traumatic things that happen in this book, and some of the reactions surprised me. Other than that, I really enjoyed the story, and read it in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honesty review.

I absolutely loved reading this book, it had me gripped from the very first page. Has some very traumatic scenes throughout which could be upsetting for aome readers. Kept me guessing right tp the end on who had died and also who had killed them!! Would definieltely recommend this book to all my friends!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this arc.

This book was a decent read. I only say that because it did get a little to teen drama for me. The story starts off with the ending essentially of an unknown girl being murdered under the bleachers. The unidentified girl sees and knows who her killers are but we have no idea then cuts back into the past that will lead you to how it al unravels. Each chapter is centered around three teen girls; Scarlett, the queen B type, Rachel, the passive one, and Laura, the outcast. Laura and Rachel used to be best friends but then Scarlett came around and stole Rachel away. The whole time you are trying to figure out who the dead girl is and who are her killers and that is mainly what kept me intrigued but it did start getting a little dark and twisted for me. Not to give too much away but there was a point in the story that didn’t need to go in that route that I had to skip through it.

Overall, I would recommend if you can get over the whole teenage girl drama aspect. The author did very well in her writing and keeping me guessing until the end.

This had me gripped from the very beginning!! I loved the fact the story was told in the different views of three girls and for most of the story these views were told in order which made reading so much easier. The friendship that came within this story was something I admired and thought was a lovely touch and really made the storyline blossom. However there are trigger warnings within the story which are for: abuse, rape and loss. The suspense had me throughout the entire book and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time to find out what was happening and the ending...!! The ending was so so good! This was one of my favourite reads this year so far!

This book kept me up all night because I just couldn’t stop reading.

I really enjoyed the story and was completely enthralled by it. The mystery kept me guessing and I just needed to know what was happening.

I liked all of the characters but they did definitely make some silly decisions at times but I think that’s normal for a thriller.

Overall it was a solid thriller and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for this book! Wow so if gossip girl, mean girls and scream had a baby this would be it! The book started slow for me in the beginning we meet scarlet your all around mean girl her best friend Rachel and loner Laura. It all starts with Scarlett wanting to humiliate Laura, Scarlett makes Laura invite over her and Rachel and this starts a crazy chain of events! Once the plot got going it was insane, I enjoyed the book overall it does have some heavy themes in it but give it a chance. You won’t see what happens coming!

I kept trying to guess who would be “the girl under the bleachers” and why and I kept getting one of the two or both wrong!! The story between Laura, Scarlett & Rachel take you through a twisted tale, you never know as the reader who is quite telling the truth and you end up second guessing yourself the deeper you get into the story.

I really enjoyed it and you don’t see the killer till it’s revealed!!!

This book starts right off with a murder, but the reader isn't told who was killed or why. The dead girl is supposedly the nice girl, the mean girl or the outcast. I think the author could have done a better job with developing these characters, as they were very stereotypical. However, I must say that it was nice to have theories I came up with as I read to be proven wrong. I like when I am surprised at what happens in books.

At the beginning someone is being murdered, but we do not find out who until later.....I thought i knew who the murderer was but i was completely wrong!.
Scarlet is the queen bee of Craven Falls High. When her BFF Rachel starts hanging out with Laura, all the drama unfolds. I cannot say too much without giving any details away.
I really enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing until the end. This definitely gave off a mean girls vibe. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE DEAD GIRL UNDER THE BLEACHERS by Donna Zadunajsky in exchange for my honest review

The Dead Girl Under The Bleachers by Donna M. Zadunajsky

WOW is all I can say!! I absolutely loved this book! It kept me on my toes the entire time!! I can’t wait to read more from this author!

5 stars

I have never read a book quite like this. It starts out with the dead girl but doesn’t really tell you who she is then it gives you three different point of views alternating each chapter. Not that this is bad because I did enjoy the book. Just be prepared to be surprised at the end at least I was.


#TheDeadGirlUndertheBleachers #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of The Dead Girl Under the Bleachers: by Donna M. Zadunajsky in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED every part of this book. Right from the start I was hooked, I couldn’t out it down. The story begins with a murder at a high school and the reader will have to figure out who was murdered and why they were murdered.
You could easily imagine the girls in a high school and you can probably relate to at least one person there. There are many suspects and it keeps you guessing and changing your mind constantly. I was wrong with my predictions which was good as I HATE it when I predict the endings in books.
If you like mystery /murder mystery books then I would definitely recommend this.

Pretty good story. Has plenty of twists and turns to keep you curious about what's going on. The writing is solid and the characters are vivid. So definitely check this out. Happy reading!

Ok so the first thing I need to say about this book, is there are a lot of triggering aspects. The book contains child abuse and rape, so you have been warned. With that out of the way, I found this ok. The blurb was a bit misleading in my opinion. The book features 3 teen girls, Scarlet the Craven Falls High Queen Bee, her best friend Rachel, and outcast Laura. Scarlet seems to have everything going for her, looks, popularity, and the jock boyfriend, but things aren't what they seem. Rachel is just a normal girl she has a decent home life, being friends with Scarlet has given her popularity. Laura is an outcast at school the brunt of jokes and bullying, then deals with her mother's abuse at home. Having dealt with my own share of bullies and abuse I was most empathic toward Laura. The book is told from a mix of all three POVs, which I didn't have a problem with. Unfortunately, there was very little character development, and all three were rather stereotypical as far as YA goes. The mean popular girl, the best friend who won't speak up and then the outcast.

The story was more a teen drama than mystery, the few clues dropped didn't give enough for the reader to go on yet the ending wasn't a huge twist or all that surprising. For me, it was just sad, and disappointing. Everything so neatly tied up, I also felt that justice wasn't quite served.

I feel that the book could have been better if the characters had been less stereotyped and the plot more fleshed out. Overall like I said, it was ok but could have been better.

I'm quite surprised at the amount of people that disliked this book, as I absolutely loved it and read it in the space of around 3/4 hours! Despite me being 23 years old, I do love a good YA book, sometimes more than a thriller focused on adults. I loved getting to know all three girls from their own perspectives and the story-lines woven in to each of their lives were juicy indeed - especially Laura's and Scarlet's. Rachel had the most average story of them all, stuck in between two girls with dark lives, but I have to say, she was my favourite, as she always knew what to do and say, she was a great friend to both, regardless of whether or not either deserved it. Laura's story was heart-wrenching to say the least and I really sympathised for her, it was just one thing after the other. The poor girl couldn't catch a break. I did feel somewhat of sympathies towards Scarlet in the end, but boy did Donna make it hard for me to like her. Her home life was not as perfect as it seemed on the outside, that's for sure, but she didn't always make life easy for herself either. There was so many times though, where you could see the good wanting to come out of her and I just wished I could have been there to help encourage it out of her.

The final chapters were painful to read, as the dead girl under the bleachers becomes a reality. It wasn't too much of a surprise for myself as to which girl it would be under the bleachers, however, it didn't make it any less awful and the people behind it - that was where my shock came out. One of the suspects was an absolute easy guess, however the second was completely unexpected and a great twist to finalise the story.

In the mood for a mystery and thriller, I was scrolling through my Kindle and came across The Dead Girl Under the Bleachers and it sounded good. As I started reading, I was hooked as we are met with a captivating first chapter of a girl running in a homecoming dress from someone who is trying to kill her and we read as she slowly dies under the bleachers. The book then jumps back a few months leading up to Homecoming. Scarlett and Rachel are best friends and Laura was Rachel's ex-friend back in middle school. Scarlett has always been jealous of Laura and now Laura is Scarlett's new target. However, Rachel is about to discover that the past few years since her mum, etc died that Laura hasn't had it easy at all. This brings Rachel and Laura close again as Rachel asks for her forgiveness. Scarlett doesn't like this one bit and plans to ruin Laura. We can also see Scarlett has a horrible stepmother, though in one part I hated Scarlett and thought she got what she deserved in the end but then the people who did it that she didn't deserve. During this book, family secrets and skeletons will be let out of the closet connecting Scarlett and Laura in a way they never realized. In finding out the truth though, it is dangerous as people would rather it be buried than out in the open and they are willing to do everything in their power to make it stay hidden - even kill. This was a good debut of the series Craven Falls Mystery and I am looking forward to seeing more in this series by Donna M. Zadunajsky.

I read The Dead Girl Under the Bleachers in a couple of hours because I could not put it down.

Donna M. Zadunajsky kicks off the “Craven Falls” mystery series with a brutal murder. I was sucked in as quickly as the victim’s shoes in the mud as they fell running from their killer. Zadunajsky spins from death to the recent past where our killer or victim’s story begins.

Three girls. One who hates. One who betrays. One who waffles. Zadunajsky adds to daily teenage drama with domestic abuse, rape, divorce, and more death. This is a mix of real-life storytelling and a mystery.

The mystery is complicated by politics, secrets, and pain. Zadunajsky spares no one. It is awesome!

I cannot wait to read the second book in this series if it is anything like this one. I did not guess the killer nor the victim. This makes The Dead Girl Under the Bleachers a must read.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

I loved this book and have recommended it to my students who are looking for thrilling page-turning books to be engaged with in the class. The Dead Girl Under the Bleachers took you on twists and turns through the story of these small town killings. My students who love Karen McManus always ask for one like them and I have recommended Donna's book to them that they love just as much as McManus looking for the sitting on the edge of your seat. They were very impressed as was I! I am looking forward to more of Craven Falls.