I thought this was an excellent YA thriller with enough action to keep you guessing and a murderer who you will not see coming. I'm a big fan of the high school murder mystery genre, but this had an interesting twist - all of the teens sent on this "retreat" were true crime content creators. Our protagonist, Sam Tombs, focuses on crimes with LGBTQ victims after her best friend went missing, and she has an online feud with AdventureswithDyl, urban explorer, Dylan. Much to her chagrin, Dylan is substituted as a last minute participant after another invitee had a medical mishap. Shortly after arriving, a terrible storm knocks out the bridge to the swanky house where the six retreat participants were staying, so that upped the stakes (they are marooned with a murderer) and also explains why there are no adults handy. Sam and Dylan are rooming together and come to a semi-peaceful detente, but when one of the participants turns up dead at the bottom of the stairs, they don't know who they can trust as they try to unravel the mystery. All of the retreat participants are keeping secrets, and the house itself turns out to be a bit more mysterious than originally anticipated. I eagerly sped through this book, I couldn't put it down, because the pacing is just right to keep the pages turning. I would wholeheartedly recommend to fans of the genre!

chaotic gay people, enby rep, autistic boy in night gown rep, rivals to lovers vibes, murder mystery in an eccentric rich person’s castle, thoughtful ideas about true crime “content”, and cl montblanc’s distinct and delightful sense of humor - 5 stars from me.

If you thought Pride or Die was good, buckle up — CL Montblanc just leveled up in all the best ways with this YA thriller treat.

I was already a fan after their debut earlier this year (which I also read the ARC for), so when I heard about this second book, I was refreshing NetGalley like a hawk. Totally worth it, because this one was the perfect read for thriller season.

While Pride or Die leaned a little younger — perfect for early teens and still fun for adult readers — this one has a much broader reach. Yes, the characters are teens, but the mystery, tension, and pacing will absolutely appeal to older thriller fans too. One of my favorite things about YA thrillers is watching characters make wildly questionable decisions that adults over 25 would never dream of, and this book delivers that chaos in the best way.

I enjoyed this from cover to cover. The queer and gender representation is seamlessly woven into the story — thoughtful, natural, and never forced. It gives younger readers the chance to see themselves reflected on the page, while still offering older readers a fast-paced, engaging mystery full of twists and emotional moments.

CL Montblanc nailed it with this one — sharp, inclusive, and seriously entertaining. Exactly what I wanted for spooky season and then some. 👏

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary eARC from Wednesday Books via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

They Want Us Dead is absolutely wild. I couldn’t put it down—it’s tense, fast-paced, and full of edge-of-your-seat moments. The stakes are high, the danger is constant, and the twists keep coming so fast you barely have time to catch your breath. CL Montblanc knows how to build suspense like nobody’s business. If you love thrillers that are equal parts pulse-pounding and can’t-look-away, this one is pure chaos in the best way.