By Ravena Guron (author)
"Set in an elite boarding school, this un-put-down-able murder mystery dazzles with whodunnit suspense and witty depth."
Paperback In Stock £9.99 £8.99
View All Editions (1)
Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2024 | February 2023 Book of the Month
“A murderer had been inspired by me.” How’s that for a scintillating set-up? And author Ravena Guron has delivered this killer concept (pun entirely intended) in thrilling style in her This Book Kills debut. With a relatable protagonist, tantalising twists, and powerful theme around truth having far greater value than money, this is a murder mystery of the highest order.
Jess, a working class Londoner of Punjabi heritage, is a scholarship student at a posh boarding school that has all the trappings of such establishments, from its bullying, elite secret society, to super-rich, self-entitled pupils, the wealthiest of whom subjected Jess to “Where are you really from?” racism when she first arrived.
When that very same prejudiced pupil is murdered, Jess and her fellow students are horrified. Matters take a more sinister turn when it transpires that the murderer took inspiration from a short story Jess had co-written. Add to that threatening messages and an escalating sense of time running out, and you have an exhilarating rollercoaster of a read, with themes of friendship dynamics and elitist, racist prejudice woven into Jess’ story.
If that wasn’t enough, This Book Kills is also fabulously funny, and has a dash of romance.
There's a murderer on the loose in an elite boarding school... But who is going to be next?
Read the full description
This Book Kills is the YA thriller of 2023, perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen McManus.
I'll make it clear from the start: I did not kill Hugh Henry Van Boren. I didn't even help. Well, not intentionally. When Hugh Henry Van Boren, one of the most popular and richest kids in Jess Choudhary's school, is found dead, the student body is left reeling and wondering who the murderer could be...
Jess, a student under strict instructions to keep her record clean or risk losing her scholarship, finds herself at the centre of the investigation when it's revealed that Hugh died in the exact same way as a character in a short story she wrote.
And then Jess receives an anonymous text thanking her for the inspiration. With time running out, Jess knows if she doesn't solve this mystery she'll finally have something in common with Hugh Henry. She'll be dead too.
At once fun, twisty, and insightful, This Book Kills is a gripping murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. - Adiba Jaigirdar, YA Book Prize winning author of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating
Sassy. Smart. And funny? What more could a girl want? - S.M. Wilson, author of The Extinction Trials
A wickedly plotted thriller that kept me guessing through to its end, This Books Kills is not only mysterious and funny, it's also an insightful exploration of elitist culture. I raced through it! - Amy Beashel, author of We Are All Constellations
Brilliantly fun, twisty and dark in all the right ways. This Book Kills had such great energy and pace that I flew through it. - Tess James-Mackey, author of Someone is Watching You
Clever, cinematic, satisfying who-dunnit that perfectly operates on so many levels. - Clare Povey
Ravena Guron is the bestselling author of YA thrillers This Book Kills , Catch Your Death and Mondays Are Murder .
Growing up, Ravena always read the last page of books first, but discovering Agatha Christie in her early teens stopped that habit, igniting a love of twisty murder mysteries with jaw-dropping endings the reader never saw coming. A born and bred Londoner, she is a lawyer with a degree in biochemistry, and uses the knowledge she's gained to plot perfect murders (only for her books, of course).
Ravena's bestselling YA thrillers have been shortlisted for the YA Book Prize, the British Book Awards' Children's Fiction Book of the Year and many more.
The YA Book Prize 2024 shortlist has been announced
Check out The British Book Awards Children's Book Shortlists for 2024
British Book Awards 2024
Emily Lockhart and 2 more
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed This Book Kills and determined it is suitable for children aged 15-18 years old
This Book Kills features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Recommendations, Funny, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Thrillers, Adventure Stories, Featured Books for Young Adults
Paperback. £8.99, down from the £9.99 cover price. In Stock.
This Book Kills was written by Ravena Guron and published by Usborne Publishing Ltd
This Book Kills has 382 pages
£8.99, reduced from £9.99. In Stock.
©PTC International Ltd T/A LoveReading is registered in England. Company number: 10193437. VAT number: 270 4538 09. Registered address: 157 Shooters Hill, London, SE18 3HP. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
The National Year of Reading starts here. Join thousands of families and schools supporting reading for pleasure across the UK.