Title: Killing Sadie
Author: Rachel Peterson
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: August 4, 2026
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop | Goodreads | StoryGraph
Summary
At the end of the latest McClain barn party, Sadie Cooper ends up dead along with her killer, Mason Vreeland. From the surface, it seems like a pretty open and shut case. Mason killed Sadie, and then her boyfriend, Ben, killed him. But as the police interview those involved, little details don’t quite add up. So who really killed Sadie Cooper?
Review: Killing Sadie
Thanks to Simon Pulse for a copy of Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson to review! The YA thriller game has been strong lately, and this is another great addition to that ever growing genre. We’re dropped into the middle of the action at the beginning, as the police try to unwind what happened at the party. The changing POVs add to the suspense, keeping the pace fast as you read to the end.
As someone who reads a lot of YA thrillers, I was able to predict who the killer was before the end. However, this didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the novel, especially as Peterson threw in plot twists to keep you off the scent. I can see teens definitely being drawn into this story, not wanting to put it down until they finish.
Not going to lie, the overall ending was actually kind of wild (and happens a little abruptly?). Maybe one more chapter would have helped, but also the abruptness sort of also adds to the suspense. If you’re in the market for a thriller that will take you on a wild ride, definitely pick this one up!
3.5/5 stars