Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Scare Factor: 💀💀💀| Plot: 📕📕📕📕| Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Length: 📖 279 pages | Genre: YA Thriller | POV: Dual First
Dates Read: 06.29.24 – 06.30.24



✴✴✴ TW: Murder; Birth ✴✴✴


🕊️ ➞ Tropes:

🕵🏻Whodunit🕵🏻
❓👤Red Herring👤❓
🚫Trust No One 🚫
🩸Gruesome 🩸
👩🏻 Final Girl Vibes 👩🏻
👻No One’s Safe 👻
👤👺Hooded / Masked Killer 👺👤
👹😵‍💫Crazed Motive😵‍💫👹
👻👺Horror/Urban Legend Inspired👺👻
💅🏻 Revenge Plot 💅🏻
🔪👤 Serial Killer 👤🔪
🔪🩸Slasher 🩸🔪
🌞🩸 Bloody Summer 🩸🌞



🕊️ ➞ Synopsis:

From the author of How to Survive Your Murder comes a propulsive thriller about two teens who return to the site of the famous murder case that sealed their fates.

Most people’s births aren’t immortalized in a police report—but Olivia was born during the infamous Camp Lost Lake murders. Seventeen years later, Olivia’s life looks pretty perfect . . . until she discovers the man she calls dad is not her biological father. Now she wants answers about her bloodline, and the only place she knows to look is Camp Lost Lake.

Most people don’t spend their formative years on the run with an alleged murderer—but Reagan did. In the court of public opinion, her mom was found guilty of the deaths at Camp Lost Lake, and both of them have been in hiding ever since. But Reagan believes in her mother’s innocence and is determined to clear her name.

Luckily for Olivia and Reagan, Camp Lost Lake is finally reopening, providing the perfect opportunity to find answers. But someone else is dead set on keeping the past hidden, even if it means committing murder.



🕊️ ➞ Progress Notes & Initial Thoughts:

pg. 166 // Olivia, you stup!d b!tch. Olivia is so whiney and annoying and doe-eyed it irks me.



🕊️ ➞ My Thoughts:

I had been anticipating Two Sides To Every Murder since I read Valentine’s How To Survive Your Murder back in March and let me tell you it did not disappoint! Valentine’s new summer slasher grabbed me by the throat, rocked my world, and then kissed my cheek as it ended. The campy vibes were ever present and immersive, the murders turned legend trope was beautifully executed, and the twist and reveals left me gasping with my jaw on the floor. I loved Reagan and her bravado so much, her sarcasm provided comic relief while Olivia’s character provided the role of the damsel in distress; I wasn’t crazy about Olivia and sometimes found her whiney and naive. That could be because I was behind Reagan’s theory that Andie was guilty, but I digress. Valentine’s subtle clues about who the killer was were clever while her red herrings were perfectly implemented and distracting.

The ending resolution of the plot left me begging for answers. The inner monologue toward the end said, “We might never know for sure, but I think I can deal with that.” I actually said out loud to my book, “But ✨ I ✨ can not!” All I have to say is GOD BLESS DANIELLE FOR CLOSING LOOSE ENDS. While I would absolutely love a sequel with that ending (!!), I appreciate and love her more for closing up the story nice and tight. ❤️

Two Sides To Every Murder was a five-star read for me and I will never stop recommending it along with How To Survive Your Murder! I loved the vibe, the characters, the twists and turns, and loved the ending! The epilogue closed up loose ends while opening the door to a sequel. Such a divine and fun read.

If you’ve had the honor of reading this new release, drop a comment! What did you think of Olivia and Reagan’s connection to the camp? What about the unmasking? Did you guess who the killer was or were you shocked as me when the characters figured out who it was? What about the ending?! Give me all your thoughts below! Can’t wait to hear from you!

xo,

L.B.

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