{"product_id":"very-dangerous-things-isbn-9780593857892","title":"Very Dangerous Things","description":"\u003cb\u003eA murder mystery game turns deadly in this young adult whodunit by the author of \u003ci\u003eSuddenly a Murder. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"Dark academia meets classic detective fiction in this clever, twisty page-turner.\" —Karen M. McManus, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eOne of Us Is Lying\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEveryone in town knows about the game. For decades, J. Everett High has staged an annual murder mystery to put its criminology students to the test. And this year, crime junkie Dulce Castillo is dead set on winning. Soon, the game kicks off, and the student playing the victim, Xavier Torres, is found poisoned in the school’s greenhouse . . . except his death is not pretend.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt’s murder.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen the authorities open an investigation, all the evidence points to Sierra Fox, Xavier’s ex-girlfriend and Dulce’s ex-best friend. Claiming innocence and desperate to clear her name, Sierra begs Dulce to look past their bad blood and find the culprit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter all, Dulce knows this school better than any investigator ever could, but she must use caution to solve this mystery. Because these historic halls are full of suspects with no shortage of motives. And in this game of cat and mouse, the other player kills.\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eVery Dangerous Things:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Dark academia meets classic detective fiction in this \u003cb\u003eclever, twisty page-turner.\u003c\/b\u003e\" —Karen M. McManus, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eOne of Us Is Lying\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“\u003cb\u003eTight pacing, smart banter, and \u003ci\u003eClue\u003c\/i\u003e-esque vibes round out this thrilling offering\u003c\/b\u003e by Muñoz, who demonstrates adept genre savvy across a snappy murder mystery reminiscent of Nancy Springer.” \u003ci\u003e—Publishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Muñoz’s latest \u003cb\u003esharp, gripping YA mystery is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie\u003c\/b\u003e–style whodunits looking for a modern take… Teens will devour this blend of engaging storytelling, dynamic characters, and surprising secrets.” —\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Nuanced suspects and interstitial flashback chapters offer readers ample opportunities to form their own theories… \u003cb\u003eA satisfyingly chilling mystery\u003c\/b\u003e with a relatable amateur sleuth.”\u003ci\u003e —Kirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This dark academia meets detective novel is clever and carefully plotted . . . \u003cb\u003ea satisfying whodunit for fans of Maureen Johnson, Karen M. McManus, or Jessica Goodman.\u003c\/b\u003e” —\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Muñoz’s blend of suspense and romance set at a criminology school is sure to hook readers, while her expertly plotted thrills\u003cb\u003e will have even the staunchest mystery aficionados guessing until the very end!\u003c\/b\u003e” —Chelsea Ichaso, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Summer She Went Missing \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Muñoz has crafted \u003cb\u003ea brilliant mystery\u003c\/b\u003e with well-drawn characters and an excellent backdrop. I couldn’t put it down!” —Carrie Doyle, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Murder Game \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003cb\u003eTwisty, clever and so much fun\u003c\/b\u003e—\u003ci\u003eVery Dangerous Things\u003c\/i\u003e is everything I love in a whodunnit!” — Kara Thomas, author of\u003ci\u003e The Cheerleaders\u003c\/i\u003eLauren Muñoz writes YA murder mysteries, including \u003ci\u003eSuddenly a Murder \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eVery Dangerous Things. \u003c\/i\u003eIn addition to being a writer, Lauren is lawyer and a former teacher living in Southern California. She received her J.D. from Northwestern University in Chicago, where she frequently skipped class to commune with her sun lamp. When she's not reading, she can be found knitting, crocheting, and collecting recipes for things she'll never bake.Sierra fox hurried down the muddy path, typing a message on her phone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLivestream ran late. Omw.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt autocorrected to On my way! just as she hit send. Fantastic. The cheerful tone would make Xavier even angrier.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSierra glared down at her heels, which were caked with dirt and crushed pine needles. “Ruined,” she muttered. And for what? Why did he need to meet her so far from everyone else? Things were bad between them, but it’s not like they were actually over. Her misstep had been a small thing. A forgivable mistake. Without Xavier . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe wouldn’t think about that.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSierra breathed in the fresh air made sharp by the evergreens that cast long shadows over the ground. A few birds squawked overhead, but otherwise the path was silent. Her classmates were having lunch inside, away from the mud and the damp.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA loud rustling broke through the quiet. Sierra paused to listen, but the noise didn’t come again. Probably just a forest animal, she thought. It had sounded big, though, and she continued a little faster. No student had ever been attacked by a bear, but every year, Dean Whitaker reminded them not to go into the woods alone, especially during cub season.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuddenly, a huge brown blur streaked across the path, almost hitting her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Ah!” Sierra shrieked, covering her mouth with a fist. She wanted to run, but she was frozen in place. The creature stopped a few yards into the woods. Trembling, Sierra forced herself to meet its eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt was a baby doe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Stupid deer!” she yelled, sending the doe sprinting into the trees. Sierra tried to calm her racing heart. If she was freaking out over a cute little animal, she must be more nervous about meeting Xavier than she thought.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs she moved down the path, the knitting needles in her bag knocked against her arm, and she carefully shifted the tips away from her skin. Everyone else in the Stitch ’n’ Bitch Club she’d started used metal needles, but for Sierra, it was wood or nothing. She’d even had her initials burned into the ends.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe greenhouse at the bottom of the path was as lovely as the rest of campus. Tall panes of float glass rose in a Gothic arch, like something out of a storybook. A few special stained-glass pieces were set in casement above the door, which was closed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSierra frowned. Xavier had told her he would leave the door propped open, but maybe he hadn’t wanted the rain to blow in. She pressed her face against the nearest glass pane, careful not to smudge her makeup. Nothing moved inside.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe heavy scent of compost and violets made her nose wrinkle as she pushed the door open. It was surprisingly chilly in the greenhouse—nothing like its typical balminess. The last time she’d been inside was with . . . No, she wouldn’t think his name. He’d shown her the tobacco plants he’d been growing to make vape juice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“You’ve got to be careful extracting the nicotine,” he’d said, pointing at a plant with broad green leaves. “It’s strong enough to take down a horse. Dope, right?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSierra had not thought it was dope. The only thing she disliked more than guys who smoked were guys who had a passion for killing things.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Xavi?” she called into the space.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only answer was a terrified flapping of wings as several birds escaped out a missing windowpane in the peaked roof, revealing the gray sky. She didn’t remember the opening being there when she was with him, but they’d been preoccupied with other things.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Xavi, are you in here?” she asked again, walking between the rows of greenery, most of which had been planted by the forensic science students for their experiments.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe chill in the air entered Sierra’s bones. Had Xavier stood her up? Was it possible he was serious about dumping her? Angry tears pricked her eyes like needles. She wouldn’t let that happen. They belonged together.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA strange snuffling sound, like an animal crawling among the plants, made her hurry toward the table at the back of the greenhouse, where pothos vines spilled onto the ground, blocking her view of whatever was behind it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSierra stopped dead when she reached the table. Something white was sticking out at an odd angle, nearly touching the uprooted remains of the tobacco plants. There were plenty of tools lying around the greenhouse, but this was something else. Something she recognized.\u003cbr\u003eXavier’s shoe.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSierra rushed around the corner, nearly twisting her ankle in her heels. When she saw what lay beyond the shoe, she screamed an endless agonized scream that traveled out of the greenhouse, up the path, and into the lunchroom. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt a table near the back door, Dulce Castillo’s ears perked up. Her best friend, Emi, was still talking about how unfair it was that Xavier Torres got picked for everything.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Shh,” Dulce said. “Can you hear that?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Hear what?” Emi asked. “Everyone chomping on their food? Of course I can. It’s disgusting.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“No, it sounds like—” Dulce paused, trying to listen over the sound of the noon church bells ringing down the road. “Never mind. It’s gone.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwenty minutes later, Sierra Fox came sprinting into the lunchroom from the hallway, her red curls in a tangle and her sheath dress covered in mud.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Xavi’s in the greenhouse!” she screamed, her voice full of anguish. “He’s been murdered!”\u003cbr\u003eSierra gazed around the cafeteria in wide-eyed horror before crumpling to the ground. The entire student body fell silent.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen everyone broke into applause.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“That was fast,” Emi said over the clapping. “Usually no one finds the body until after Labor Day.” She began stuffing chips into her mouth. “We should finish up so we can get to the greenhouse first. Early bird solves the murder.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDulce smiled. Xavier Torres was dead. The game had begun.","brand":"G.P. 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