Book Review: “Killing Sadie” by Rachel Peterson

“Killing Sadie” by Rachel Peterson (2026)

Genre: YA, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

Page Length: 304 pages (hardcover edition)

Synopsis:

Here’s what we do know: there was another infamous barn party at the McClain family farm last night, and things went horribly wrong. By the end of the night, there were two dead bodies in the old barn: seventeen-year-old Sadie Cooper and her killer, Mason Vreeland. The murder was heartbreakingly witnessed by Sadie’s twin sister, Jayne, and Sadie died in her arms. Mason was killed by Sadie’s boyfriend, Ben, in an attempt to save Sadie.

Aside from figuring out Mason’s motive, it should be an open and shut case.

But it’s not.

The story unfolds just after the murders, and Jayne, Ben, and Sadie’s best friend, Liz, are telling the cops what transpired at the party and the events leading up to it. But little details don’t match. And those little details start to add up to big discrepancies. But who’s lying, and why?

The shocking truth is revealed in the third act, when the POV shifts to victim Sadie herself, in the days leading up to the party. Witness exactly what happened—and see if you can piece it all together. Because poor Sadie totally missed what was right in front of her.

Review:

Killing Sadie is a YA thriller debut by author Rachel Peterson that follows a story of a tragic murder told through the viewpoints of unreliable narrators. It’s up to the reader to divulge the truth from the shifting point-of-views in order to discover the culprit. An intriguing read from beginning to end, this story promises a wild ride that doesn’t stop until the story reaches its conclusion.

I love a good mystery novel and that’s what intrigued me to pick up this book. It’s fast-paced and the constant plot twists put the reader on the edge of their seat. What I appreciated about this novel is that it felt like watching a procedural drama playing out before your very eyes. Each chapter is a new reveal to the mystery surrounding the case as the detective interrogates the main characters to find the truth. Because they are unreliable narrators, the pieces of the puzzle don’t line up which keeps the reader engaged throughout the course of the story.

While the novel seems like typical high school drama at first glance, Peterson does a great job of giving it depth. The characters feel fleshed out and detailed as we learn about them through their flashbacks and observations of each other. It also delves in to topics of love, angst, jealousy and family drama which get heavy at times and add to the story’s overall world building. It has all the elements of a great mystery which made it hard to put down when I had to stop reading and go about my daily schedule.

I think if you enjoy mystery novels that mirror police procedurals, twisty plots, and complicated characters I recommend checking out this book!

Final Verdict:

*3.7 stars*

FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.