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Review: Murder at White Oak (White Oak Murder #1) by Marko Realmonte

WARNING: This novel has mind-blowing plot-twists and surprises. Do not read if you have a weak constitution or suffer from even mild homophobia.

A murder mystery... a ghost story... and a gay love story. (maybe not your definition of a romance)

Jake Weston, a seventeen-year-old cross between Holden Caulfield and Sherlock Holmes, is an openly gay American at a private British boarding school. He's got a lot on his plate. He's being haunted by the ghost of a former student, and he's fallen in love with his beautiful roommate. He's trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of Tommy Walker, a White Oak student who vanished in 1976... but piecing together a puzzle from the past will lead to real danger in the present. He'll inherit a fortune if he can solve a murder and make it out of White Oak Academy alive.

This genre-bending fusion of supernatural suspense, thriller and young adult LGBT love story has mind-blowing plot twists that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Finally, a gay whodunit! Murder at White Oak tackles some of the very real issues of bullying and beatings within the walls of prestigious boarding schools for boys and the difficulties of being gay in that restrictive, closed environment. This is the first in a series of gay mysteries.

WARNING: SHOCKING ENDING!


Definitely unconventional, as this was not strictly a romance but mainly a murder mystery, the ending is a shocking development but perhaps not such a shocking revelation.

This book stars 16 year old Jake, who immediately draws you in. He’s over the top rich, devastatingly handsome, a star athlete, and a genius to boot. No doubt he’s charming, daring, mischievous, outrageously audacious, and he doesn’t hide who he is. He’s out in all his glory and not surprisingly, Jake hardly plays by the rules. Though he garners loyalty from many, his sense of justice for those he cares about gathers him just as many enemies. Envision a young blonde Tony Stark, with a lean towards athleticism and cultured brilliance rather than outright tech savant.

So, basically this showcases the day to day look at life at a British boarding school with all the hijinks one could imagine from such a cultured, set in stone institution, ripe with rules, traditions, and legends. One of those legends being a former student’s ghost who now haunts the grounds, whose body has never been found. While Jake sets his mind to solving the mystery, he falls in love, aces his classes, and trains to be an Olympian. It’s all in a hard day's work for “Richie Rich”.

What stands out here is the structure of this book which boasts no less than 10 different POV’s. The settings vary, the chapters are short, but it never lost my interest. I admit, I thoroughly enjoyed myself for the first 80%, and then I was shockingly devastated, angry, resigned - then somewhat vindicated and ultimately, satisfied despite my frustrations. I won't go into nitty gritty detailed spoilers. Other reviews have nicely done so, so if you want HUGE plot reveals investigate more! Admittedly, I’m still a bit peeved because I like my romance a certain way and this did not deliver on that…. but props to being original.

Overall again, if you want something different, if you like mysteries, if you don’t mind tame YA with a bit of romance thrown in, then prepare yourself for a shock and a hardcore bittersweet ending that just might tickle your fancy leaving you pleasantly surprised (fingers and toes crossed). If not (and the odds are kinda sorta leaning towards that opinion) - hopefully, just simply entertained.


A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


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