I found this on my Sora from an audiobook sync download from however long ago. I enjoyed listening to it, and I surprised myself by figuring it out early in the novel, which is unusual for me.

It's been a year. Mac's best friend was the last murdered victim of a serial killer, known as the catalog killer. Each person killed had a picture from a catalog showing which member of the family the victim represented. A man, a woman, and a teenage girl and boy were all killed and the killings stopped. Apparently, the killer killed the metaphorical family and moved on. Problem is that the last person killed was Mac's best friend, Connor. It's graduation night and Mac and his friend made a pact to get back together and unearth their time capsule they planted after 8th grade, assuming they would still be friends. Surprisingly, all but one friend comes to the planned meeting. They haven't been close in years, but they do this one act together. This event and the idea of moving on and having his own life after graduation make Mac want to find who the killer was.

The novel follows Mac as he investigates all of the murders. He takes Connor's old job at the library, enabling him to see the people Connor saw. Connor, a gifted artist, wasn't much of an employee, but he was creating a mural of the town that was never finished. Mac suggests doing a fund raiser and having someone finish the mural to honor Connor. This project allows Connor to visit the homes of the murdered victims to ask questions. It also leads him to his first boyfriend. He agrees to help Connor to assuage his own concerns from his family member's death.

This novel is a decent thriller; not the best I've ever read, but it's distracting and engaging, making it worth your time if this genre is what you're in the mood to read. ( )

3.5 Stars ( )

Bravo! Well written story that keeps the reader hanging. ( )

I read this last spring after reading a recommendation. In a similar style to Karen McManus, this book had me on the edge from the beginning. I really liked the introduction of this YA male protagonist. I would call the flow of the plot a slow burn that doesn't let you go. Not only is Mac trying to discover the truth behind the Catalog Killer, he is trying to come to grips with his true feelings about Connor, while starting a burgeoning relationship with Quill, one of the victim's cousins. The way the author wrote Mac's struggle oozes off the page. If anyone likes a gripping mystery, this one got my vote! ( )

3.5 stars

I like that the main character is gay but that's just one detail about him not his whole story. I wasn't super into some of the other characters. They weren't that interesting or relatable, but I was so into the mystery of trying to figure out the murders. I did not see that coming. The very ending after it was all over didn't seem believable, the way they all handled it. But again, I super enjoyed the actual murder mystery. ( )