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Shelby Griffin didn't think police academy would be easy, but she also didn't know it would be this difficult for her. To worsen matters, her supervisor tells her if she doesn't improve soon, she will have to let her go.

However when her colleagues mysteriously start dropping dead one by one, it seems like the police academy is being infiltrated.
Shelby, alongside her friends, decides to prove herself by investigating the murders and she's soon in over her head...

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 29, 2020

86 people are currently reading
96 people want to read

About the author

Audrey Walker

90 books91 followers
Audrey Walker is a young and rising international best-selling Author in the Mystery & Suspense niche.

Walker's books are fast-paced, nail-biting pageturners with twists you won't see coming.

Walker lives currently in south Germany with her husband and a newly born daughter. When she is not writing or reading, you will find her climbing up the Alps in Switzerland and walking aroung the Black Forest in south of Germany.

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5 stars
115 (38%)
4 stars
94 (31%)
3 stars
49 (16%)
2 stars
32 (10%)
1 star
9 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
6,726 reviews5 followers
March 21, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

Another will written murder mystery family and friends relationships adventure thriller short story by Audrey Walker (Shelby Griffin Prequel to season 1). Shelby Griffin is at the police academy where her grades are struggling to make graduation. Then a fellow cadet dies. It turns out too be murder. Then another and another making three deaths. Shelby gets involved and finds out who is poisoning them. I would recommend this series and author to readers of mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 👒😀☺😡
Profile Image for Julie.
2,006 reviews630 followers
September 25, 2022
Academy Assassin is a prequel story to the Shelby Griffin series. The novella is a quick read and a great introduction to the characters.

Shelby and her friends, Maya and Tracy, are nearing graduation at the police academy. Shelby excels at athletics, but her academic performance is slipping. In fact, if she doesn't score high on her final test, Shelby won't graduate from the academy. She's distracted from her need to study when a fellow recruit is found dead. The death is announced as a suicide, but Shelby knows the recruit didn't kill herself. Maybe solving the case will not only stop a murderer but also get Shelby back in the good graces with her superiors.

The story kept my attention from start to finish. There is plenty of investigation, a good plot and some interesting twists along the way. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Very entertaining!
Profile Image for Bonnye Reed.
4,706 reviews111 followers
October 5, 2021
I received a free electronic copy of this short police procedural novel, from the author. Academy Assassin is a prequel to the Shelby Griffin Series and sets you up for the action nicely, though the series would be complete without it. The following is my review of the complete series, the prequel to the boxed set, #1 - #5.

Audrey Walker writes a concise, compelling tale peopled with protagonists who are well-rounded and very human, and her twists and turns in the plot are credible and well-executed. Taking place in Los Angeles, the joys and pitfalls of that community play into the storyline, are actually another character at play. Each tale is complete in and of itself, with a trailing tidbit leading into the next. The stories would be fine taken one by one, but I found myself binging right on through to the other side. These are crimes that could occur anywhere, and Shelby Griffin and her partner Trevor Morris are members of the Los Angeles Police Department, detectives in the Murder Squad. They work well together, though their personalities would seem to make that impossible. The play as they work together on a crime is smooth and obviously something well-rehearsed. It is a pleasure to observe them working the crime. Aubrey Walker is an author I am pleased to recommend to friends and family.

Shelby Griffin Series Box Set included the first five of these short novels, Sleepless Night, Sleepless Mind, Sleepless Street, Sleepless Hunt, and Sleepless Shelby. The prequel Acadamy Assassin was published in December 2020 and reviewed on October 5, 2021.
Reviewed on January 15, 2021, at Goodreads and individually on Amazon, and BookBub. Not available for review on B&N, Kobo, and GooglePlay.
Profile Image for Lynelle Clark.
Author 58 books176 followers
June 28, 2022
I received an ARC copy for an honest review.
Tracy, Maya, and Stacey are inseparable at the police academy. The finals are on in two weeks’ time and Stacey was feeling the pressure. Their supervisor is checking over their shoulders for any slip up, especially from Stacey, and plans are made.
When a co-student's body is found, things begin to happen that the three friends were not ready for.
This is a very short book, a pre-sequel to the Shelby Griffin Mysteries. I don’t know the reason for the book, but it introduces you to the main protagonist, Shelby Griffin. Her desire to be a detective is not known, but that she is eager to step up is sure. In her own way, disregarding the strict rules of the academy and Persia.
Finding the killer soon became her only objective, and the killer’s identity startles her. The how wasn’t clear, and the conclusion felt rushed. I don’t think I will continue with this series. The character was not relatable, nor did she grab my attention.
Profile Image for Frances.
228 reviews1 follower
December 10, 2024
Predictible, extremely juvenile and borderline boring.

Shelby and "her girls" spend far more time worrying about her "non boyfriend" then they do that she's about to be kicked out of school, or oh yeah! Students are being killed.

Seriously it's never written that they are attending the police academy, but we hear all about the guidelines of her situationship.

In addition to that no one ever acts as though they are adult cops training to be detectives.

The writing was childish.

The mystery was painful.

It was one good 80's montage away from being a complete cliché.
Profile Image for Ron.
967 reviews5 followers
January 4, 2022
A quick short read.

Police academy cadet investigates the murder of several fellow classmates.

This has a decent ministry.

I would not necessarily call it cozy mystery, But there is low level violence, I think only one word that might be considered profanity, and no graphic sex.
Profile Image for Petula.
3,091 reviews87 followers
December 19, 2021
Shelby Griffin is struggling with the theory at the police academy.  It could mean she will flunk out of her dream job. If she solves the death of a fellow student it might get her extra credit. 

This Murder/Mystery is a series prequel . It's a good start with a very interesting heroine.  

I will definitely be on the lookout for the first full story.  

Good fun.  
Profile Image for Barb VanderWel.
1,819 reviews30 followers
January 21, 2021
I love this book.
Can't wait for more.
I will be leaving a review on Goodreads & Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So I give it a 5 Star!
Profile Image for Colin Devonshire.
Author 96 books27 followers
March 5, 2021
What can I say? Well enough written, just not me. I was sold on the cover, my fault.
Profile Image for Merry Chapman.
2,582 reviews23 followers
August 19, 2021
The prequel to the Shelby Griffin series grabs you from the beginning when we see three friends, Shelby, Maya and Tracy going through the police academy nearing graduation. Shelby is trouble to the head of the school Persia and her superior officer. The book open with Shelby in the Persia's office receiving and ultimatum. She once again did very poorly on her test, a 75% and is told her only redemption would be to get a higher score on her final. No more second chances and if she doesn't do so much better on her final she is out of the academy. Returning to her friends they decide they will help Shelby study and succeed when an announcement comes over the PA that one of the recruits was found dead - a suicide note in her hand in the bathroom. But according to Shelby and friends, why, they can't believe she would have committed suicide since the deceased was so into become a police officer. Shelby comes up with a plan. If she investigates and finds it is murder and unravel a mystery, if there is one, she would get in the good graces of her superior officer, Persia and graduate. So now starts the crazy adventure with so many twists and turns and red-herrings while trying to avoid her non-boyfriend, Jackson. I loved this prequel and can't wait to read what comes next for Shelby. Does she actually pass through the academy and graduate? What else will she to get in trouble with, since it is her nature to buck the system a bit. I received and ARC from the author but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
961 reviews4 followers
October 2, 2022
Police Academy Can Be A Real Killer!

by Barbara Kelley

Shelby Griffin is just about to flunk out of the police academy because she does not have at least an 80% grade level. Her lieutenant tells her that if she doesn't pass the finals, she will not be able to graduate, and that she won't get a second chance. But before Shelby can buckle down and study for the upcoming finals, an apparent suicide victim causes her to look into the death as a possible murder. She sneaks into her lieutenant's office and finds the file on the suicide victim. She did not die from suicide, but from an oleander flower poisoning. Then there is another suicide victim, but she was murdered, too, with oleander. Then there is a third death by oleander. Shelby decides to take matters into her own hands and find the killer before another recruit is murdered. I have read thousands of mysteries during my 67 years of life, and I usually figure out right away from the foreshadowing of information revealed in the story who the murderer is. However, I didn't realize who the killer was until near the end of the book. Audrey Walker is an excellent author, and I plan on reading more of this series. This prequel was given to me for free in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book to any lover of mysteries, and I gave it 5 big fat stars!
217 reviews2 followers
September 24, 2023
Headstrong lead character

Shelby is in the police academy and not doing well in the written exams.
She is headstrong and rubs up the lieutenant the wrong way, doing herself no favours in her attempts to stay in the academy.

Fellow academy hopefuls start to be found dead so Shelby and two of her pals decide to investigate and find out who is doing the killing.
Needless to say the lieutenant finds out about her quest and forbids her from carrying on with her investigations, which she ignores.

Her pals are supposed to be helping her with her studies so it’s looking like she will fail the academy as studies get shelved in favour of her investigations.

It’s a decent story with a few twists and turns, although the male attendees at the academy are very much stereotypical idiotic womanising male police trainees that have leapt out of the movie series into this book and it’s tiresome and unnecessary, but that’s just my opinion as I’m sure some readers will lap it up.

Profile Image for A.
296 reviews7 followers
January 25, 2022
Our young female protagonist is flunking detective academy so rather than study for her exams, she hopes of getting extra credit by trying to solve a murder (with the help of her 2 buddies). This story is written in a casual tone and feels young (to the extent that I might have written ‘BFF’ (with a smiley face emoji) instead of ‘buddies’ in the prior sentence), so it may be intended for younger adults. This fast-paced prequel is a bit jumpy and unrealistic, and the reasoning used to solve the crime is basic. Thank you to the author and publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
10 reviews
December 11, 2023
Gripping Tale of Murder

Gripping tale it took hold of me from the first chapter. I couldnt put it down and read it completely in one go. I liked the base story line of the "investigator pupil" but never detracted from the murder track. The fast pace and jumping from suspect to suspect kept me continuously reading to try and anticipate the next but surprising leap to the next person of interest. A well written and increasingly fast pace short story incorporating so much in such a short piece of work. I shall remain a fan of Audrey Walker
as she has demonstrated her abilities more than amply to be a le to capture the reader. Well done.
791 reviews6 followers
November 24, 2021
A person with enough well prower can overcome almost anything. THat is what Shelby has to do to prevent from being thrown out of the police academy. When students starts dropping dead, Shelby can't leave thing alone and cannot accept the answer that is was suicide. Shelby wants to investigate
but her final is just around the corner and how will she fare if she fails the final exam. But SHelby wants to followup and find the murderer. Only reading the next few books will determine if she is successful in remaining in the academy.
21 reviews
January 30, 2022
Shelby Griffin excels at all but exams at the Police Academy unlike her two best friends, Maya and Tracey. She’s been warned by her supervisor if she doesn’t do well in her final exam she won’t graduate with her friends.

In the midst of what she’s going through, her fellow students are being killed one by one and Shelby decides that she’ll solve the murders and maybe just maybe she’ll be given extra credits and she’ll pass.

I enjoyed reading this book and I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next.
21 reviews3 followers
June 12, 2022
Introducing Shelby Griffin

This fast moving (very short) prequel shows us the beginning of Detective Shelby Griffin. While in the police detective academy, she’s not the best student, but.quite good at the rest of the job.
Her future is based on results of her final exam. But exam be damned, Shelby’s fellow students are dying one after another around her. She decides to solve the murders instead of study. After several twists and cheating boyfriends/lovers it comes to a fast crescendo. Academy Assassin is worth the fast read. I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Billie.
5,784 reviews71 followers
October 25, 2021

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
1,488 reviews25 followers
January 4, 2022
This is a short novella giving an introduction to Shelby Griffin while at the police academy. While under pressure exam results-wise and so has to get near perfect results in her final exam, she decides to investigate the apparent suicide of another academy student. When another student dies, she is determined to prove there is a serial killer in their midst.

It was a light, fun read, nothing taxing and just perfect for something quick to read in an hour or 2.
Profile Image for Sylvia Jacobs.
207 reviews33 followers
January 22, 2022
I was given this book for an honest review.
The story begins with a girl named Maya in jeopardy of not graduating unless she passes a test. One of Maya’s classmates has left a suicide note and found dead. Maya decides to investigate the case and doesn’t believe her classmate committed suicide.
This is a short book of 11 chapters and I read it in an hour. I really enjoyed the book. I recommend it to be read. I couldn’t put it down.
652 reviews7 followers
May 25, 2022

5.0 out of 5 stars
Academy assassin
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021
Shelby is struggling at the academy. If she doesn’t get a good grade on the final test she won’t get a second chance to pass. As she gets ready to study harder with her friends a classmate is found dead. Knowing there must be more to the death not being told to them she decides to try and see if she can find the truth. The beginning to
A great series. I received a free copy of this book for a honest review.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,653 reviews28 followers
December 9, 2022
Academy Assassin: a Prequel - a fast paced female detective mystery thriller (Shelby Griffin Series - Season 1), my fourteenth read from author Audrey Walker. A 49-page read, prequel to the series, set during Shelby's Academy days. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
2 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2023
Good Read

I found this Book interesting but the negative was that it dwelt to much on the sexual nature of the individuals it also didn’t clarify the Chain of Command a little more description of the individuals in the Book would enhance this book
A Longer Book would give the Author more scope to explore the environment and the characters more deeply there potentially taking a Good read into a Excellent Read
This is Just my Humble Opinion.
Profile Image for Sheila Walker.
463 reviews1 follower
October 27, 2024
What was the real reason

Shelby at the academy too much fun not enough study will she get kicked out it's possible until the unthinkable happened students found dead, Selby decided she was going to find out who did it, and why and when you find out you won't understand I didn't but do murders really need a reason. Cunning murderer there right in front of your nose too many students not enough reasons will Shelby succeed and pass her exams, read it and see
3 reviews
May 22, 2022
Love the Fast Pace of the Book!!

After reading this book, I found the plot very interesting and leaving me wanting to know she made it in the Academy. The plot is different and gave clues I found interesting-the rose smell. I enjoyed the book and will read another of hers. This book is for adults & up.
1,823 reviews13 followers
May 29, 2022
Shelby Griffin is in danger of not graduating from the police academy. Her friend Elena is found dead with a suicide note. Shelby does not think Elena would kill herself and decides to investigate to try to solve the case. She thinks it will help her to stay in the academy. Two more recruits are found dead. This is a great start to a Shelby Griffin series.
150 reviews
July 25, 2022
Quick easy read for anyone!

Nice short easy to read mystery. Shelby the main character is a bit unusual and stubborn. She likes doing everything outside the box from breaking rules about uniform with wild hair extensions to bright nail polish. She thinks quick on her feet which is what gives her an edge in solving the case.
480 reviews5 followers
August 1, 2022
A fast paced murder mystery. Shelby is on the verge of flunking out of the police academy. There is a murder of a classmate. Shelby decides that if she solves the murder, they won't kick her out of the academy. In the meantime there is another classmate found dead. Is the killer found before another body is found? Read this short story to find out for yourself.
1,139 reviews3 followers
August 15, 2022
Audrey Walker is a new author for me. I like trying new authors as sometimes you run across one that really grabs you. This is one of those cases.
Suspense at its finest. The characters, plot and overall suspense kept me riveted to the story. It is a prequel so was a bit shorter than a regular book but definitely left me looking forward to the next.
2,894 reviews4 followers
August 17, 2022

Shelby is in the Police Academy wanting to be a detective. She’s having trouble in her classes with her grades. But when fellow students stat dying she goes into action to find out why. It’s being made to look like suicide but they didn’t. Now it’s a race to find the murderer! I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews

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