Ridley keeps readers guessing throughout this twisty satire, starting with Damien’s best friend, “B,” who chronicles their whirlwind friendship-to-roommates journey—one that ended when their codependency started to interfere with B’s love life. B’s girlfriend, Lily, is also gifted a voice, presenting Damien as overprotective and his relationship with B as “weird… like, an obsessive need or compulsion toward each other.” Ridley crafts an intense picture of Damien’s friend group from there, each with their own axe to grind, and many who caustically observe the unhealthy nature of Damien and B’s relationship. That red herring merits further investigation, though, as the story revolves around several suspects, each more believable than the last.

Every character’s thoughts on Damien, who might have killed him, and on each other are alternately funny and sad, painting a portrait of a troubled young man desperately searching for belonging. Even B, in her own flippant style, recounts the woes of Damien skipping from boyfriend to boyfriend with a touch of melancholy, reflecting on his loneliness and vulnerability, while Damien himself comments “I [knew] better than to let myself end up this way.” This will appeal to readers who aren’t afraid of the hard work that comes with solving a good mystery.

Takeaway: Satiric murder mystery with a wealth of likely suspects.

Comparable Titles: Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, Rupert Holmes’s Murder Your Employer.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-