Review of Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston

 

Murder on a School Night by Kate Weston

Published on July 4, 2023 by Harpers Collins/ Katherine Tegen. Thanks to the publishers for providing an advance copy for review.

Plot Summary for Murder on a School Night

There’s never a good time to find a dead body, sure. But what about finding a dead body while you’re trying to kiss your crush? 

Kerry had different plans for her first high school party—like not going. All she wanted to do was stay home in the safety of retro rom-coms and her strict retainer schedule. Instead her BFF, fiercely outgoing mystery-fanatic Annie, has roped her into going to the party to investigate who’s cyberbullying Heather, the most popular girl in school.

Finding herself getting close with her dreamy crush is odd enough, but when the two of them discover Heather’s second in command, Selena, suffocated with a menstrual cup, things get really weird. 

And when a second student turns up dead, this time with a sanitary pad across the eyes, Annie and Kerry—no matter how much she resists—are officially on the case to stop the menstrual murderer . . . period.

Review of Murder on a School Night

The updated version of the darkly comic movie Heathers you never knew you needed!

Kerry is content to be shy and a bit anxious in her small English village, reading Agatha Christie novels. Her BFF Annie is small but larger than life. Together, they are the bookish, uncool feminists in their small English village.

Kerry is resigned to the fact that they will never be in the popular crowd at school. But then they wangle their way into a party held by Heather, the most popular girl in school. While talking to her crush, Kerry literally stumbles upon the body of a fellow student. 

Annie and Kerry hilariously manage to get in with Heather and her friends so they can crack the case. Rudely dismissed by male police officers (the patriarchy!), they gather clues, investigate suspects and, of course, make the requisite murder board.

Murder on a School Night is part of a new trend of feisty female YA detectives, but with a much more comic bent. Think Good Girl's Guide with Amy and Molly from the movie Booksmart.

I don't always love comic mysteries, but this one had me laughing! I'm hoping that Kerry and Annie go to university and solve more mysteries.