The Headmaster's List

By: Melissa de la Cruz

Narrated by: Lori Felipe-Barkin, Inés del Castillo, André Santana, Eunice Wong

Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

This audiobook contains collaboratively recorded podcasts and interview segments from within the world of The Headmaster's List.

One of Us Is Lying meets Riverdale in The Headmaster's List, an edge-of-your-seat YA thriller about a fatal car crash and the dangerous lengths one teen will go to uncover the truth about what really happened.

Friday night. The party of the summer. Four teens ride home together. Only one never makes it.

When high school sophomore Chris Moore is tragically killed in a car crash, Armstrong Prep is full of questions. Who was at the wheel? And more importantly, who was at fault?

Eighteen-year-old Spencer Sandoval wishes she knew. As rumors swirl that her ex, Ethan, was the reckless driver, she can’t bring herself to defend him. And their messy breakup has nothing to do with it–she can’t remember anything from that night, not even what put her in that car with Ethan, Chris, and Tabby Hill, the new loner in school.

The hunt for answers intensifies when a local true crime podcast takes an interest in the case, pushing Spencer further into the depths of this sinister mystery. Was it all just a night out that went very wrong? And is it a coincidence that all but Chris is on Armstrong's esteemed honor roll, the Headmaster’s List? In a place ruled by pedigree and privilege, the truth can only come at a deadly price.

Set against the glitz and glamour of an elite LA private school, Melissa de la Cruz's first YA thriller is an addictive mystery perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

A Macmillan Audio production from Roaring Brook Press.

©2023 Melissa de la Cruz (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"There's nothing Melissa de la Cruz can't write, and she continues to prove it with this razor-sharp, glitteringly mysterious thriller! Put The Headmaster's List at the top of your TBR." - Kiersten White, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the And I Darken trilogy

"Melissa de la Cruz will keep you guessing - all the way up to the last page even when you think you’ve figured it out! Everything you want in a thriller—a complicated heroine, snarky outsiders, cute boys, and a surprising and insightful story about status, race, class and tragedy in Los Angeles." - Sara Shepard, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars

"A twisty thriller with a likable and complicated protagonist." - Kirkus

Fantastic YA Mystery!

I would definitely not say that this is a thriller, but a solid mystery novel that has a few heart racing moments...not to say that it didn't hold my interest, because I was all in on this audiobook!

Just a quick run through, this story focuses on Spencer, a high school student with memory loss after a car accident that claimed the life of a fellow classmate. One of the young adults is at fault, and already put on trial, but Spencer knows that there is more to the story than what she's being told, and won't stop until she uncovers the truth.

I loved Spencer's character, and felt she and the rest of the cast were written superbly well! I felt their emotions and connections, and the wording was spot on. I feel as if the author didn't add in tons of wording just for filler, but for the story to encompass as a whole. I do love the plot, again, total mystery, not to much thriller, but it was the perfect blending to keep a reader entertained. I will also admit, while I did see a few things coming, the actual ending...I didn't see at all! It surprised me, and who doesn't love to be surprised in a book! Great entertaining read!

Good and Bad

The narrator did a great job distinguishing different tones for different characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed the podcast parts! The story, however, was way too predictable. I figured out what was going to happen and who was at fault within the first few chapters, which made it overall not so enjoyable. Spencer, as a character, was not easy to root for, I just found myself screaming at her to just relax and maybe take the advice of the adults around you for once. I guess I am officially old, because I absolutely hate it when teenagers try to act as though they are smarter than the adult professionals around them.

Enjoyable

I loved the audiobook of THE HEADMASTER’S LIST. Melissa de la Cruz created an interesting cast of characters and producers cast the perfect ensemble to perform.

Spencer’s journey from attempting to be the perfect scholarship student at her prestigious private school, perfect daughter to her first-generation immigrant parents and perfect girlfriend had me rooting for her. De la Cruz portrayed Spencer’s PTSD accurately, making it a challenge and part of who Spencer was without the teen’s whole identity. I enjoyed how she wanted answers for herself and was committed to her ex Ethan not serving time for a crime he didn’t commit, not because she wanted him back, but because it was the right thing to do. Making Ethan a not so innocent, not so guilty asshole was a nice touch to his character. The vapid podcasters were a hoot.

I enjoyed every minute of THE HEADMASTER’S LIST and recommend audio as a way to digest this book.

Good story

Enjoyed the story line. Suspenseful and entertaining drama. Would recommend for a book club. That’s who I read it with and enjoyed it.