Last to Leave by Teresa Richards

Video game streamer Fallon joins a 1920s-themed murder mystery game, and the only thing more important than figuring out whodunit is who has the most fans.

When seventeen-year-old up-and-coming video game streamer and content creator, Fallon, earns a coveted spot in the new murder-mystery reality game, SleuthIt, her objective seems pretty straightforward: play the game, solve the mystery, and win the million-dollar prize. The fact that she’ll do it all on livestream with seven other young content creators only makes things better—after all, increased exposure is influencer gold, and winning will catapult her gaming channel to the next level.

But unbeknownst to each other, the contestants are interconnected, and when one of them turns out to be Fallon’s online gaming partner, Dante, she starts to doubt the objective of the game. The intrigue runs much deeper than Fallon ever thought—the eight contestants chosen for the show are not the only players in the game, and the interlopers have hidden agendas and competing interests.

As secrets come out and the lines between ally and adversary blur, Fallon will have to figure out what game she’s really playing, who might be playing her, and what she’s willing to sacrifice in pursuit of fame and fortune. Because, in the end, no one can have it all.

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A livestream murder mystery where the real game is reputation - and everyone’s already playing dirty.

Pre-Reading Thoughts
This sounded like Clue but make it Gen Z and monetised, which is either going to be wildly fun or slightly terrifying. A 1920s theme layered over influencer culture? I was expecting big personalities, betrayals, and at least one “oh, that was planted from the start” moment.

Post-Reading
As I thought…
The structure absolutely delivers as a mystery. The reveals land exactly when they should, and the clues are there if you’re paying attention - which is always the sweet spot. It really does feel cinematic; you can see the set, the costumes, the camera angles. And with a cast this size, it’s impressive how distinct everyone feels - I never had that “wait, which one is this again?” problem.

It surprised me by…
How well the influencer angle actually works as a tension engine. The question isn’t just “who’s lying?” but “who’s performing?” - and those are very different answers. The layers of connection between the contestants add a nice extra twist to what could have been a straightforward game setup.

🎵 Music Pairing
Featured Song: “Puttin’ On the Ritz” – Taco
🎶 Vibe Album: Cheek to Cheek – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Postmodern Jukebox (for that vintage aesthetic with a modern twist - very this book’s whole thing)

Vibe Check
Colour Palette: gold, black, deep burgundy, a flash of camera-light white
Soundtrack: jazz spilling out over hidden microphones
Season: late autumn - crisp air, long nights, secrets getting easier to hide
Mood: performative tension, smiling while calculating
Scent: expensive perfume over something just slightly metallic

Tarot Pull
Seven of Swords – strategy, deception, and getting away with more than you should. Perfect for a story where everyone’s playing their own game - and not all of them are following the same rules.

For fans of

• The Inheritance Games
• Only Murders in the Building