Eileen Cook

On a school trip to London that includes her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend, Kim meets risk-taker Nicki, who proposes a diabolical deal.

You Owe Me a Murder

Sarah Sammis

A fabulous retelling of Strangers on a Train. 

Now the big difference between Strangers on a Train and You Owe Me a Murder is the countdown. Nikki only has so long to get Kim to do her bidding or to get her framed for Connor's murder if she refuses. Kim and the other students are only there for a set number of days, something each chapter reminds us with a countdown.

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Mariyah

4/5 ⭐️ Oh how I love a good murder and mystery type of book. This one has it all.

Sofie

Kim is not having a good time. Her boyfriend Connor broke up with her and immediately started dating someone knew... after she'd planned to follow him on school sanctioned trip to London. Deposit paid. Flight booked. And now her flight is delayed for 3 hours. Luckily, instead of hanging around the other students - and being forced to watch her now-ex make out with his new girlfriend - Kim finds a friend in a girl on her flight named Nicki. And on the flight, after sneaking some vodka, the two jokingly come up with a plan - Nicki will get rid of Connor if Kim will get rid of Nicki's mom. 

But a few days later, Connor is pushed in front of an oncoming train. And Kim receives a note at her hotel - You're Welcome. Nicki couldn't really have killed Connor, could she? They were just joking... weren't they?

Despite the riveting blurb, this thriller felt a bit flat for me. I'm not sure why, since the stakes were obviously high - every day that goes by that Kim doesn't kill Nicki's mom, Nicki gets more and more devious. But despite the drama, despite the thrill, the book was just mediocre. 

Kim was incredibly unlikeable, and I'll chalk that up to her being a pathological liar. I almost wish she'd snapped and done something rash in the novel, just to make things interested. But she still held onto the wisps of a moral code that just made her boring.

Not much to say about it. Nicki was the most interesting character, and when motivations were revealed, they were a let-down, too. I just wanted more from this. I wanted to be awed. There were stakes but no suspense, no plot twists or red herrings. 

The romance was unnecessary, and honestly, rather silly. There was little chemistry between Alex and Kim, and yet, after like 10 days on the trip (view spoiler)[without even having kissed yet, Kim says she's in love with him. Considering they are barely together - as she spends most of the trip seeking out Nicki and trying to outsmart her - it was a rushed b-plot that took away from the story. (hide spoiler)]

Just wanted more. 2.5 stars.

laura

* I got this book for review for my honest thoughts*

I was really impressed with this book. I was not the biggest fan of with malice, but this book was actually a super gripping mystery that kept me turning the page. I really enjoyed the concept of this book and also the setting of london. I also like the romantic sub plot and also the main character was super compelling to read from. I thought the character was super interesting to read from and was hard to put the book down. This book ending was a bit openish but overall i really enjoyed this read.

Jessica 

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Review was posted here at Booked J. I was sent a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not change my view in any shape or form. 

I knew I had to read You Owe Me a Murder. With a title like that? I was hooked. Plus, thrillers are some of my favourite stories to read. Although I'd never read a novel by Eileen Cooke (an oversight on my part!) I knew straightaway that this book would be my brand. 2019 has, after-all, been really good to me in terms of great literary offerings.

When I think of my experience reading You Owe Me a Murder, I could see the story playing out vividly in my mind. Cook has a bleak and tense tone to her writing that keeps you hooked and in place for the duration of the novel. It's quick and effective--very engrossing. If you like high paced, high stakes, stories that will keep you guessing, Eileen Cook's got you covered.

Further, Cook's writing is more than just engaging. It's unexpected and coherent, completely clever and indulgent. When I say that her writing is brilliant, I'm not exaggerating. You Owe Me a Murder has a quality that so many YA thrillers are lacking. This is the sort of thriller you read in one go and feel a serious literary hangover in the days that follow.

I genuinely liked (and in some cases, feared) the characters in You Owe Me a Murder. They were each impossible to forget and I wouldn't have it any other way. If the plotlines don't sell you in terms of thrill factor, these characters will. While thrillers have to have suspense to succeed, Cook goes above and beyond by surprising readers with twists, turns, cleverness and completely gorgeous characters.

The perfect spooky read to dive into this spring and summer--especially on days that offer up thunderstorms.

Yi Yaw

Cat Josephson

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.

You Owe Me a Murder

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