Mondays Are Murder was a tense and tightly plotted YA mystery that pulls you into its investigation with heart and suspense in equal measure. Ravena Guron is a must-read author in the genre.
Ravena Guron is a real force in YA mysteries with inventive concepts that she spins into compelling stories with great characters and jaw-dropping twists. This latest offering hits all of those points once again. It ensnares you from the very first page—Guron sets the tone perfectly with a hooky line that speaks to both the personal and the wider scale stakes of the story. It hits your heart and endears you to Kay quickly. We have all been affected by loss and this encapsulates the associations it can create with everything, big or small.
Kay is an instantly endearing and brilliant protagonist. She is deeply affected by grief and being back in this familiar place, forever shifted by the absence of those she loves. Her voice shines on the page. I loved her determination and drive, her willingness to get tangled up to try and protect people. She is also trying to live up to these expectations she has created for herself—that impossible standard grief persuades you is what your loved ones would expect. Guron also explores how grief can romanticise a person, almost removing the sharp angles of their humanity and their messiness. People are not perfect. It is a really interesting take on grief and the darker aspects of it, with a few different angles within this.
The mystery itself is well-constructed and fantastically paced. It is layered, with plenty of great twists and turns. Guron has such a skill for creating complex and compelling mysteries. There are two timelines to keep track of, each with their own secrets and reveals. We move seamlessly between the two and Guron drops enough information to keep you gripped to the page. Kay has to re-examine the events surrounding Ivy’s death and the tangled relationships around this, as well as other events that weigh heavily on her mind. There is plenty of juicy drama in here and these feel like real teenagers, caught up in love and looking ahead to their futures. The friendship group is well-developed and you can see the way grief affects each of them differently. Guron has a great knack for writing dialogue that sounds believable, without tying too much to a specific point in time. It feels effortless and natural.
I loved how spine-chilling the notes were. They started this twisted game and the countdown added an extra layer of tension, forcing characters to make terrible decisions. I liked the spin on the classic nursey rhyme, assigning each day a new peril. There is a Jigsaw-like maniacal spin to it all, bringing chaos to Kay’s life. It follows a pattern but Guron inserts some twists into what you may expect. It is not quite as simple as you may think. There is an element of unpredictability in the precise details of what will unfold. That is the other thing that messes with Kay’s head, as Monday delivers these in slightly unexpected ways. It should be foreseeable and therefore preventable, but they are ten steps ahead. You feel like you are being pulled more into this aberrant web – very much a puppeteer pulling strings. Guron builds all of this towards a magnificent reveal and an explosive conclusion. It really sticks the landing in a way that is satisfying and sensational.
Mondays Are Murder is heartfelt and unputdownable with a sinister plot that grabs you immediately and never lets go. Simply put, Ravena Guron delivers yet again.
Mondays Are Murder is available from Amazon, Waterstones, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of February 13th 2025.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Murder, mystery and mind-blowing twists: the deadly new YA thriller from bestselling breakout sensation, Ravena Guron, perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus.
Seventeen-year-old Kay left her sleepy hometown after the devastating death of her friend, Ivy. But when her parents go on holiday without her, Kay is forced to come back to stay with her cousin. And her return comes with a bang. Because when Kay arrives, it’s to find an anonymous letter on her bed.
The letter tells her that there will be a thrill on Tuesday, a wreckage on Wednesday, treachery on Thursday, a fire on Friday, sabotage on Saturday, a stabbing on Sunday – and her murder on Monday.
And if Kay can’t figure out who is behind the threats, the worst day of the week is about to get deadly…
