You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook is a high-stakes thriller that is stressful to read, but in a good way. The plot is full of twists and the characters are enjoyable. The writing style is suspenseful and has edge-of-your-seat action that is present throughout the whole story. This is one incredible thriller for those looking to read a unique murder novel.
Title: You Owe Me a MurderAuthor: Eileen Cook
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: March 5, 2019
Rating:
Seventeen-year-old Kim gets more than she bargained for when she is set up for murder. Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, E. Lockhart, and Gillian Flynn.
17-year-old Kim never expected to plot a murder. But that was before her boyfriend dumped her for another girl. Now, Kim’s stuck on a class trip to London with him and his new soulmate and she can’t help wishing he was a little bit dead, even if she’d never really do that.
But when Kim meets Nicki, a stranger on the plane who’s more than willing to listen to Kim’s woes, things start to look up. Nicki's got a great sense of humor, and when she jokes about swapping murders, Kim plays along—that is, until Kim’s ex-boyfriend mysteriously dies.
Blackmailed by Nicki to fulfill her end of the deal, Kim will have to commit a murder or take the fall for one.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: You Owe Me A Murder by Eileen Cook
This book tells the story of a girl who is blackmailed into committing a murder after she and a stranger joke about swapping murders while on a plane. When her ex turns up dead, Kim is forced to either kill Nicki’s mom and uphold her end of the “bargain” or be “exposed” and arrested. This book is so action-packed, and the plot is surprising. Just when you think you know how it is going to go, sudden twists appear out of nowhere, and the story is intensified. This is the first book I’ve read by Eileen Cook, but after reading this I am interested in reading more.
❀ Clever Main Character
Kim is a clever main character and she handles the situation well. She tries to think of ways to catch Nicki in the act, but Nicki is always one step ahead of her. It is hard to imagine being in a situation like Kim’s. Can you imagine being blackmailed to murder someone because of a joke? Kim has her flaws and I didn’t agree with every decision she makes. However, she goes through a lot, and is still ultimately an enjoyable character. Surprisingly, the side characters are even more interesting than the main character. It is so entertaining to read about the unpredictable and mysterious Nicki. I was on the edge of my seat every time she appeared. Alex is also such a sweetie, and he does his best to support Kim.
❀ Thrilling Twists
The way the book is written intensifies the thrill. Twists are just thrown at the reader, and the plot can turn at any moment. The way Nicki is presented and the mystery that surrounds her is so amazing. The reader doesn’t know much about her, and there is no way of verifying what she says. Honestly, reading this book stressed me out since I was so invested in Kim’s fate. The suspense and action throughout the story really make this a thrilling read.
❀ Action-Packed
You Owe Me a Murder by Eileen Cook is an action-packed thriller that is full of twists. The main character and the side characters are so enjoyable to read about, and the writing style amplifies the excitement. I would definitely recommend this one, especially to fans of books like Truly Devious.
About Eileen Cook
Eileen Cook spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
This sounds really interesting! I don’t read thrillers a whole bunch, but I love that the main character is clever and that there are lots of twists. Great review!
It is such a fantastic read. I hope that you give it a try. 🙂
Wow! This one sounds good! I don’t always read thrillers, but I do with my book groups. I need to write this one down for it. Great job!
I think that this is a perfect book club selection! 🙂
Excellent reveiw! One I will keep in mind!
Thanks so much, Sophie! 🙂
I liked her book “With Malice” — sounds like this has a similar vibe. Will check it out!
Dianna recently posted…Smoke & Summons by Charlie Holmburg #giveaway #SmokeAndSummons
I really need to read that one soon! 🙂
This does sound like a really cool book! I will give it a try.
I hope that you love it, too! 🙂
Great review! I’m eagerly waiting for this book to come out I’m so glad you loved it! It sounds very thrilling! Can’t wait to read it! 🙂
Raven @ Dreamy Addictions recently posted…Stolen Time (Dark Stars #1) By Danielle Rollins [Review]
Not too much longer to wait! I hope that you love it as much as I do! 🙂
Yay! This looks awesomely awesome! I am so looking forward to this one. It just sounds so GOOD!
It is AMAZING!! I have a good feeling that you will love it, Jaime. 🙂
This sounds amazing. I love unpredictable twisty thrillers. I haven’t heard of this one yet so thank you for the rec.
Sue @ Crushingcinders recently posted…Adding to Your TBR – February 2019 (Part 2)
I am so excited about this book! I think that you will really enjoy it. 🙂
This sounds like an awesome book.
It really is! I hope that you give it a try! 🙂
As a fan of mystery, this one sounds really promising. Great review!
Great review, I’ve already added it to my to-read list!
Books like this stress me out! It’s because they’re well-written, but I have to be in the right mood for it 😉
Nice review, sounds good. Glad I didn’t miss out.