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Seventeen-year-old streamer Fallon May has a complicated home life.
She might be just an “average white girl from middle-of-nowhere USA,” but her mother is in rehab, and she’s currently sleeping on her brother’s couch. With her college fund going to her mom’s stint in Hope House, Fallon is counting on money from her gaming channel to pay for her future. The opportunity of a lifetime arises when she’s selected, along with other up-and-coming streamers and influencers, to participate in SleuthIt, a live-action Clue-like mystery game with a million-dollar prize at stake. In a mansion littered with clues and red herrings, the eight racially diverse young participants—Fallon, A’Nyah, Connor, Dante, Flip, Hudson, Macie, and Ravi—are assigned alter egos and backstories to fit the 1920s-themed murder mystery. They must solve the mystery while entertaining the viewers or risk getting sent home. Fallon thinks there’s more going on beneath the surface: Why do the contestants seem to have previous drama with each other, and why do the clues seem to change? Although the premise of a mystery reality show is engaging, the execution is convoluted, making the characterization the real star. Fallon’s journey from being distrustful, angry, and lonely to developing real self-awareness—plus the sweet romance that develops between her and a fellow contestant—will keep the pages turning and readers rooting for her happiness and success.
A mystery that stands out due to its strong character growth.
—Kirkus Reviews

Fallon is a rising video gamer and content creator who applies to a murder-mystery-themed reality competition hoping to grow her audience and win a million-dollar prize. When she’s selected, Fallon discovers the game is a fully immersive, live-streamed experience set in the 1920s, centered on the murder of Ms. Cherry. SleuthIt unfolds inside a sprawling mansion, where Fallon and seven other content creators compete by uncovering clues, forging alliances, and staying in character throughout the game, all while letting fans in on their every move. As the competition intensifies, Fallon begins to realize that there’s far more at stake than solving a fictional crime. Caught among rival players, a demanding audience, and her drive to win, she unexpectedly discovers deeper truths about herself along the way. Richards has crafted a classic whodunit that immerses readers in a game of Clue reimagined through the eyes of modern content creators. This innovative blend of live-streaming culture with a fictional murder mystery set in the 1920s creates a fresh and compelling narrative. While the novel may particularly resonate with a younger YA audience, older mystery fans will find themselves eagerly solving the game alongside the characters. Beyond the competition ­itself, the story reveals ­unexpected emotional depth, exploring Fallon’s personal struggles and the lingering ghosts of her past. ­Fallon is presumed white, while the supporting competitors of the game represent a range of diverse backgrounds.
VERDICT Highly entertaining and immersive, this murder-mystery will captivate genre fans as well as readers drawn to influencer culture and gaming. ­Recommended.
—School Library Journal