BWS Book Review: Kill the Lax Bro
- Bookworm
- Jun 17
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 31
Quick Overview
Title: Kill the Lax Bro
Author and Publisher: Charlotte Lillie Balogh / Delacorte Press
Story: During Hancock High School’s Senior lock-in, star lacrosse player Troy Richard is found dead. While different in almost every way, Jennifer (the dream girl); Naomi (the geek); Sassi (the overachiever); and Tatum (the rebel) are connected by the fact they hate Troy. Who killed him and why?
Publish Date: June 24, 2025
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult, Whodunit
Where to read it: Curled up in bed at night absorbed by the Why? When? Where? And How?
Pages: 384 pages
Kill the Lax Bro is a locked-room mystery about a group of high school students from different social cliques coming together to solve a murder before they graduate, where the killer could be anyone or any of them! The story will lock you in a room full of suspense till you discover the identity of the killer. This YA book was written by Charlotte Lillie Balogh, author of Pretty Weapon and The Alpha’s Poison and co-writer of Lower Your Sights: A Benefit Anthology for Ukraine. The book will be published by Delacorte Press. Kill the Lax Bro is described as a “fresh and darkly funny 90s murder mystery”.
Mark your calendars: Kill the Lax Bro will be published on June 24, 2025.
The Summary
During Hancock High annual lock-in, the fun night takes a horrible turn when star lacrosse player, Troy Richard is found dead. The several suspects must band together and solve the murder before they are accused: Jennifer (the dream girl), Naomi (the geek), Sassi (the overachiever), and Tatum (the rebel). All are connected by the fact they hated Troy’s guts, but who wanted him dead?
Warning! Spoilers below! You have been warned!
The Evaluation
I enjoyed Balogh’s setting and story format, but it was the mystery that pulled me in and kept me on the edge of my seat until the big reveal. This book is a straightforward locked-room mystery with a locked location, red herrings that will throw the reader, small-town secrets about a death that happened a decade prior, flashbacks that reveal new information, and a plot twist at the end to take the reader by surprise. Balogh makes this trope her own with the time period being the 1990s and the theme of found family. Any fans of Clue or Locked-Room Mystery stories will love this book.
Strengths
Balogh makes each character unique.
There are six different character pov chapters, but the story mainly focuses on Jennifer, Naomi, Sassi, Tatum, and Andrew. That is a lot of characters, but Balogh doesn’t skip on developing them. Even the main antagonist has depth. She gives them each personal antagonist, obstacles, goals, and personality. This makes them stand out from each other.
The chapter titles are ‘90s songs.
I think the 90’s songs as chapter titles are a creative idea. Chapter One is called “...baby one more time” (pg 5). It not only ties into the time period the story takes place but also to the young age of the high school protagonists.
The plot twist at the end took me by surprise.
I can’t say much in order not to spoil the ending. During the last gathering, the last information is shared and the killer is revealed. It's not who I expected and then something even more surprising happens to a main character. The events help keep Kill the Lax Bro fresh from other lock-room mystery stories.
Weakness
No book is totally perfect. Here is point from the book that didn’t work for me.
It becomes vague at the end so it feels incomplete.
Once the killer is revealed, the book wraps up quickly and becomes vague on some key details, such as the end of the characters' arcs. For example, Tatum has a hard home life. Her hard home life motivates her in the story, but the reader does not learn if her home life improves or continues to control her. Similarly, other characters have obstacles in their personal lives that are not resolved. After rooting for the characters, the ending feels partially unfinished.
Rating
The Bookworm's Snack rates Kill the Lax Bro 4 out of 5.
Kill the Lax Bro is an enthralling mystery with an antagonist you can hate but kind of understand and a sucker punch of an ending that doesn’t go as you expect. Balogh took a common trope and made it her own with her story format, characters, and ending. I was on the edge of my seat as the mystery grew at every reveal. It did feel incomplete when the protagonists' personal obstacles were not resolved or addressed, but the ending plot twist was surprising. The Bookworm’s Snack gives Kill the Lax Bro four out of five stars. Mystery fans and lock-room mystery trope fans will obsess over this book. I may have to read it again now that I know who the killer is…
Comment below if you are looking forward to the book!
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