Murder High: A deadly game. A killer player.
By (Author) Lauren Muoz
Hot Key Books
Hot Key Books
2nd December 2025
29th July 2025
United Kingdom
Young Adult
Fiction
Childrens / Teenage fiction: Thrillers / suspense
813.6
Paperback
352
Width 129mm, Height 198mm
A smart, twisty whodunnit from from the author of the scandalous SUDDENLY A MURDER. Perfect for fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson.
THE DEAD BODY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FAKE. BUT IT WASN'T. NOW THERE'S ALL TO PLAY FOR . . .
For decades, J. Everett High has staged an annual murder mystery to put its criminology students to the test. And this year, crime junkie Dulce Castillo is dead set on winning. Soon, the game kicks off, and the student playing the victim, Xavier Torres, is found poisoned in the school's greenhouse . . . except his death isn't pretend.
IT'S MURDER.
When the authorities open an investigation, all the evidence points to Sierra Fox, Xavier's ex-girlfriend and Dulce's ex-best friend. Claiming innocence and desperate to clear her name, Sierra begs Dulce to look past their bad blood and find the culprit.
After all, Dulce knows this school better than any investigator ever could, but she'll have to use caution to solve this mystery. Because these historic halls are full of suspects with no shortage of motives. And the game has turned deadly . . .
Dark academia meets classic detective fiction in this clever, twisty page-turner * Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ONE OF US IS LYING *
Twisty, clever, and so much fun-Murder High is everything I love in a whodunnit! * Kara Thomas, author of THE CHEERLEADERS *
Muoz's blend of suspense and romance set at a criminology school is sure to hook readers, while her expertly plotted thrills will have even the staunchest mystery aficionados guessing until the very end! * Chelsea Ichaso, author of THE SUMMER SHE WENT MISSING *
Muoz has crafted a brilliant mystery with well-drawn characters and an excellent backdrop. I couldn't put it down! * Carrie Doyle, author of THE MURDER GAME *
Tight pacing, smart banter, and Clue-esque vibes round out this thrilling offering by Muoz, who demonstrates adept genre savvy across a snappy murder mystery reminiscent of Nancy Springer * Publishers Weekly *
Lauren Muoz is a writer, lawyer and former teacher living in Southern California. She received her J.D. from Northwestern University in Chicago, where she frequently skipped class to commune with her sun lamp. When she's not reading, she can be found knitting, crocheting and collecting recipes for things she'll never bake. She is the author of SUDDENLY A MURDER and MURDER HIGH.