Book Review: "The Meadowbrook Murders" by Jessica Goodman

It’s the start of senior year at Meadowbrook Academy. Roommates and best friends Amy and Sarah are excited for all that lies ahead, from soccer games to parties and spending time together before they head off to college.

After she and Sarah had a big argument at a party, Amy finds solace in Joseph, her boyfriend. But when she wakes up the next morning, she is horrified to find Sarah and her boyfriend are dead, clearly victims of murder.

The school is rocked by the double murder. Students and their parents are fearful there could be a killer on the loose, but it’s not long before some students start to suspect Amy. After all, she and Sarah had a fight the night before. And with Amy hiding the fact that Joseph—who is not a Meadowbrook student—was in her room that night, could she be guilty?

Liz is the editor of the school newspaper and an aspiring journalist. She’s also a loner, and her ambition to break the murder story wide open doesn’t win her many friends. But when Amy is moved into her dorm room, she tries to help her get answers to her questions, even if her motives get questioned by her peers and the administration alike.

Little by little, both Amy and Liz uncover secrets that Sarah and others kept hidden. Will they be able to figure out the identity of the killer before it’s too late?

Even though I had a feeling about the killer fairly early on, I enjoyed this book. I’m a fan of Jessica Goodman and like the darker tone her books take on. And this book reminded me why I was glad I never went to prep school!