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Dead Girls Talking
The town of Wolf Ridge calls him The Smiley Face Killer. Bettina Holland calls him her father.
Everyone knows Bettina’s father was the one who murdered her mother a decade ago. It’s the subject of podcasts, murder tours, and even a highly anticipated docuseries. But after growing up grappling with what that means, a string of copycat murders forces Bett to answer a harder question: What if he didn’t?
Old-money Bett must team up with the only person willing to investigate alongside her: bookish goth girl Eugenia, the mortician’s daughter, who everyone says puts the makeup on corpses. Can this “true crime princess” unmask a murderer who’s much closer to home than she ever imagined?
Gritty, gripping, and propulsive from page one, Dead Girls Talking is a ride for readers who love to see girls get their hands dirty as they claw their way to the truth. Peterson’s knife-sharp thriller cuts deep, with a wicked sense of humor, a wire-taut atmosphere, and a deadly serious approach to bigger issues of transparency, justice, and female anger.
Everyone knows Bettina’s father was the one who murdered her mother a decade ago. It’s the subject of podcasts, murder tours, and even a highly anticipated docuseries. But after growing up grappling with what that means, a string of copycat murders forces Bett to answer a harder question: What if he didn’t?
Old-money Bett must team up with the only person willing to investigate alongside her: bookish goth girl Eugenia, the mortician’s daughter, who everyone says puts the makeup on corpses. Can this “true crime princess” unmask a murderer who’s much closer to home than she ever imagined?
Gritty, gripping, and propulsive from page one, Dead Girls Talking is a ride for readers who love to see girls get their hands dirty as they claw their way to the truth. Peterson’s knife-sharp thriller cuts deep, with a wicked sense of humor, a wire-taut atmosphere, and a deadly serious approach to bigger issues of transparency, justice, and female anger.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 11, 2024
38 people are currently reading
5057 people want to read
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June 9, 2024
to say im disappointed in this is a understatement. first i would like to say is i was very excited about this. when I first seen the cover i knew i had to read it, then i read the description and was over the moon. lately I’ve been into young adult murder mysteries/ thrillers (I’ve recently read a ya series and fell in love with it) so i knew what i was getting myself into when reading this (or so i thought)
I understand young adult is targeted towards a younger audience but i myself enjoy a good ya book from time to time.
Now I had a couple problems with this book.
first the writing style (yes I understand it’s ya) felt really mediocre even for the genre, when I say this I mean one page it’ll be good and then out of nowhere they throw in words that could’ve been replaced with a simpler word rather than a big complicated word whereas a younger audience would get confused by it. (even I found myself confused😭)
Second there was a scene towards the beginning where the main character was having a sexual encounter with someone and it didn’t feel right to read it in a young adult novel. The scene wasn’t very explicit but it still felt like it was too much for it to be in this.
Third: this is very fast paced. Don’t get me wrong I love a good fast paced book here and there but I felt like we just got thrown into this with no buildup or anything. One page there’s a body and the next she’s making friends with the other main character and trying to discover the killer.
Fourth: honestly all the characters felt like they were just there 🧍🏻♀️and what I mean by that is that they didn’t feel real, they felt undeveloped and had no emotions or anything. The mc’s “love interest” was boring and felt he was just there to add nothing to this story except being a “mysterious bad boy” who is interested in the mc’s mothers death.
The second mc Eugina was literally the best character and still she gave us nothing 😀. Her relationship with the mc Bettina was so random? I understand being in high school and not knowing some of your classmates even though you’ve been going to the same school for years but how they became friends was thrown at me out of nowhere.
In the beginning Eugina is giving and presentation in class and Bettina makes a comment basically bullying her and the class laughs and next thing you know Bettina is inviting her to a party and boom they form a friendship and start looking into the murders because you know Eugina is the morticians daughter 😀
There’s also many plot holes in the story that we never get an answer too and the story felt unfinished.
I could keep going on and on about this book and everything I didn’t like about it but I will spoil the story.
Maybe it’s because im a little bit older and the genre isn’t targeted towards me and that’s why I didn’t like it? I hope anyone who does pick this up in the future enjoys it more than I did.
thank you netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!!
I understand young adult is targeted towards a younger audience but i myself enjoy a good ya book from time to time.
Now I had a couple problems with this book.
first the writing style (yes I understand it’s ya) felt really mediocre even for the genre, when I say this I mean one page it’ll be good and then out of nowhere they throw in words that could’ve been replaced with a simpler word rather than a big complicated word whereas a younger audience would get confused by it. (even I found myself confused😭)
Second there was a scene towards the beginning where the main character was having a sexual encounter with someone and it didn’t feel right to read it in a young adult novel. The scene wasn’t very explicit but it still felt like it was too much for it to be in this.
Third: this is very fast paced. Don’t get me wrong I love a good fast paced book here and there but I felt like we just got thrown into this with no buildup or anything. One page there’s a body and the next she’s making friends with the other main character and trying to discover the killer.
Fourth: honestly all the characters felt like they were just there 🧍🏻♀️and what I mean by that is that they didn’t feel real, they felt undeveloped and had no emotions or anything. The mc’s “love interest” was boring and felt he was just there to add nothing to this story except being a “mysterious bad boy” who is interested in the mc’s mothers death.
The second mc Eugina was literally the best character and still she gave us nothing 😀. Her relationship with the mc Bettina was so random? I understand being in high school and not knowing some of your classmates even though you’ve been going to the same school for years but how they became friends was thrown at me out of nowhere.
In the beginning Eugina is giving and presentation in class and Bettina makes a comment basically bullying her and the class laughs and next thing you know Bettina is inviting her to a party and boom they form a friendship and start looking into the murders because you know Eugina is the morticians daughter 😀
There’s also many plot holes in the story that we never get an answer too and the story felt unfinished.
I could keep going on and on about this book and everything I didn’t like about it but I will spoil the story.
Maybe it’s because im a little bit older and the genre isn’t targeted towards me and that’s why I didn’t like it? I hope anyone who does pick this up in the future enjoys it more than I did.
thank you netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!!
March 28, 2024
thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
i was very excited about this book going into it — cool title, pretty cover, interesting premise, maybe there will be crime-solving sapphics and discussions on the ethics of creation and consumption of true crime content. however, i was left feeling severely disappointed.
the plot is still somewhat interesting and compelling and the pacing and the writing are fine, but nothing about this book felt gripping enough to make me want to keep reading out of enjoyment. every character felt underdeveloped, even bettina (and we spend the entirety of the book in her head, since this is told in first person), and her relationships with the other characters felt meaningless.
the writing felt a bit juvenile and choppy at times, even for a YA book, and there are passages that wouldn't look out of place in something written ten years ago (i.e. lengthy descriptions of outfits and appearance instead of proper characterization, a lot of telling instead of showing, slut shaming for literally no reason, bullying for the sake of adding to the 'woe is me' side of bett's character even though, realistically, such a thing for such a reason [being the daughter of a murderer] probably wouldn't happen in real life, etc).
the explanation for everything that happened? flat as an iron board. there are many things that should've been explained and weren't, and the killer reveal felt like a last-minute decision. a pet peeve of mine is crime fiction focusing on some random teenagers solving these mysteries thanks to the sheer incompetence of the police and, while it can be done well, this entire book felt incredibly unrealistic in that regard. bett was just... handed things on a silver platter. it's like using every cheat code while playing a videogame and expecting to be pat on the back for all your hard work.
though this was a plot-driven book, i still expect developed characters, at least the main character. however, bett was just there. she's bland. she has no defining characteristics besides being the daughter of a murderer. that's her personality — her trauma and her past. there's no space for present or future bett to be discussed and, though i'm aware this could have been intentional, it doesn't feel that way. she wants to be an actress, but why? what are her motivations? her interests? who is this girl outside of her trauma, and why am i supposed to care about her when i'm being given no reason to?
there was no reason for her and eugenia to become friends besides convenience; though i know several friendships might start off this way (see: college people you're only friends with at first because you see them every day), they're usually strengthened by the passing of time and common interests, but that also involves people getting to know each other. bett and eugenia knew next to nothing about each other despite knowing each other for years, which is actually lampshaded during the book, but it's ultimately brushed off. eugenia was even less developed than bett, and the rest of the cast of characters aren't better off, either.
overall, this was just meh. it tries very hard to be a spiritual successor to a good girl's guide to murder, but fails. it tries to do a lot of things at once, but lacks the compelling characters and the intricate connections between them, the urgency of the plot, and the originality of the premise. i'm not opposed to reading more stuff from this author in the future, but this just didn't do it for me.
i was very excited about this book going into it — cool title, pretty cover, interesting premise, maybe there will be crime-solving sapphics and discussions on the ethics of creation and consumption of true crime content. however, i was left feeling severely disappointed.
the plot is still somewhat interesting and compelling and the pacing and the writing are fine, but nothing about this book felt gripping enough to make me want to keep reading out of enjoyment. every character felt underdeveloped, even bettina (and we spend the entirety of the book in her head, since this is told in first person), and her relationships with the other characters felt meaningless.
the writing felt a bit juvenile and choppy at times, even for a YA book, and there are passages that wouldn't look out of place in something written ten years ago (i.e. lengthy descriptions of outfits and appearance instead of proper characterization, a lot of telling instead of showing, slut shaming for literally no reason, bullying for the sake of adding to the 'woe is me' side of bett's character even though, realistically, such a thing for such a reason [being the daughter of a murderer] probably wouldn't happen in real life, etc).
the explanation for everything that happened? flat as an iron board. there are many things that should've been explained and weren't, and the killer reveal felt like a last-minute decision. a pet peeve of mine is crime fiction focusing on some random teenagers solving these mysteries thanks to the sheer incompetence of the police and, while it can be done well, this entire book felt incredibly unrealistic in that regard. bett was just... handed things on a silver platter. it's like using every cheat code while playing a videogame and expecting to be pat on the back for all your hard work.
though this was a plot-driven book, i still expect developed characters, at least the main character. however, bett was just there. she's bland. she has no defining characteristics besides being the daughter of a murderer. that's her personality — her trauma and her past. there's no space for present or future bett to be discussed and, though i'm aware this could have been intentional, it doesn't feel that way. she wants to be an actress, but why? what are her motivations? her interests? who is this girl outside of her trauma, and why am i supposed to care about her when i'm being given no reason to?
there was no reason for her and eugenia to become friends besides convenience; though i know several friendships might start off this way (see: college people you're only friends with at first because you see them every day), they're usually strengthened by the passing of time and common interests, but that also involves people getting to know each other. bett and eugenia knew next to nothing about each other despite knowing each other for years, which is actually lampshaded during the book, but it's ultimately brushed off. eugenia was even less developed than bett, and the rest of the cast of characters aren't better off, either.
overall, this was just meh. it tries very hard to be a spiritual successor to a good girl's guide to murder, but fails. it tries to do a lot of things at once, but lacks the compelling characters and the intricate connections between them, the urgency of the plot, and the originality of the premise. i'm not opposed to reading more stuff from this author in the future, but this just didn't do it for me.
July 14, 2025
From the gossipy small town setting to the likable main characters, I was quickly pulled into the murder mystery of Dead Girls Talking. With an easy-to-follow plot, which won me over with its mixed media format, this YA novel was an utter home run—for the most part, that is. After all, despite being somewhat underdeveloped and not so true-to-life, these two strong and fearless female protagonists were the special sauce to this quick, easy read. Quirky, fun, clever, and endearing, their unlikely friendship paired perfectly with their successful amateur sleuthing. Was it all somewhat far-fetched? Yeah, maybe it was. Just the same, I had a blast riding shotgun beside these two unstoppable young heroines as they searched for the truth.
All said and done, I found myself falling for this book hook, line, and sinker. With a definite A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder feel and a deliciously unhinged climax that swept in for the win, I was taken with this plot-driven novel from beginning to end. You see, there wasn’t a minute of downtime from the attention-grabbing start to the sequel-worthy last page. What really got me going, though, was how a book positioned for teens kept me guessing right up until the end thanks to the eye-popping twists and subtle red herrings. Even better, however, were the thought-provoking themes about justice and women’s role in society. All told, it was a solid serial killer read that had me firmly glued to the pages. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Everyone knows Bettina’s father was the one who murdered her mother a decade ago. It’s the subject of podcasts, murder tours, and even a highly anticipated docuseries. But after growing up grappling with what that means, a string of copycat murders forces Bett to answer a harder question: What if he didn’t?
Old-money Bett must team up with the only person willing to investigate alongside her: bookish goth girl Eugenia, the mortician’s daughter, who everyone says puts the makeup on corpses. Can this “true crime princess” unmask a murderer who’s much closer to home than she ever imagined?
Thank you to Megan Cooley Peterson, Holiday House Books, and The Future Of Agency for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 18, 2025
Content warning: mention of: murder, a stroke, violence, knife violence, mention of: suicide, domestic violence
All said and done, I found myself falling for this book hook, line, and sinker. With a definite A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder feel and a deliciously unhinged climax that swept in for the win, I was taken with this plot-driven novel from beginning to end. You see, there wasn’t a minute of downtime from the attention-grabbing start to the sequel-worthy last page. What really got me going, though, was how a book positioned for teens kept me guessing right up until the end thanks to the eye-popping twists and subtle red herrings. Even better, however, were the thought-provoking themes about justice and women’s role in society. All told, it was a solid serial killer read that had me firmly glued to the pages. Rating of 4 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Everyone knows Bettina’s father was the one who murdered her mother a decade ago. It’s the subject of podcasts, murder tours, and even a highly anticipated docuseries. But after growing up grappling with what that means, a string of copycat murders forces Bett to answer a harder question: What if he didn’t?
Old-money Bett must team up with the only person willing to investigate alongside her: bookish goth girl Eugenia, the mortician’s daughter, who everyone says puts the makeup on corpses. Can this “true crime princess” unmask a murderer who’s much closer to home than she ever imagined?
Thank you to Megan Cooley Peterson, Holiday House Books, and The Future Of Agency for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 18, 2025
Content warning: mention of: murder, a stroke, violence, knife violence, mention of: suicide, domestic violence
June 27, 2024
thank God its over
review coming soon <3
review coming soon <3
May 12, 2024
Grab a flashlight— you’ll be staying up late to solve the twisty mystery of the Smiley Face Killer. DEAD GIRLS TALKING will be your next true crime obsession!
March 26, 2024
⭐️ 2 stars ⭐️
Dead Girls Talking was an unbelievable tale of two mismatched teenagers/barely adults playing detectives and somehow solving a string of murders by pure chance.
But really, it felt more like a testament to how failing and lazy the justice system is. I mean, these sheriffs and cops really did not want to solve these crimes.
This thriller/crime mystery did not work for me on different levels.
The main character, Bettina, was unlikeable. Very egocentric, mean, arrogant. I’m sorry your mother was killed, but there is no need to be a bitch about it.
I sort of wish Eugenia was the narrator, because she was badass. I probably would’ve enjoyed this ten times more if it had Eugenia’s POV.
The plot was pretty basic and still managed to feel completely unrealistic. Bettina not only manages to find all the dead women somehow, but also the evidence (that police ignore, of course) and, in the end, the killer.
ALSO, the whole creepy smile carved into their faces? Yeah, we get zero explanation for that. The most spooky, chilling thing in the whole plot and it’s not even explained. Nice.
Not much happening for most of the book until the very end where all hell breaks loose. This didn’t really transmit any real emotion for me, except maybe annoyance towards Bettina.
And literally every man that came on page. They all seemed to embody the same misogynistic male prototype, all alpha bullshit and weak women. It was like everyone else was painted to seem dumb and inferior to the main character, while also inferring that every man is trash.
So yeah. No spook factor, no thrill, no fun.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Death, murder, suicide
- Brief (closed doors) unprotected sex
- Attempted SA
It seemed like I was finally starting to shed that girl-whose-dad-killed-her-mom identity. That true-crime identity. That death-aura identity. But maybe death does follow me.
Dead Girls Talking was an unbelievable tale of two mismatched teenagers/barely adults playing detectives and somehow solving a string of murders by pure chance.
But really, it felt more like a testament to how failing and lazy the justice system is. I mean, these sheriffs and cops really did not want to solve these crimes.
This thriller/crime mystery did not work for me on different levels.
The main character, Bettina, was unlikeable. Very egocentric, mean, arrogant. I’m sorry your mother was killed, but there is no need to be a bitch about it.
I sort of wish Eugenia was the narrator, because she was badass. I probably would’ve enjoyed this ten times more if it had Eugenia’s POV.
The plot was pretty basic and still managed to feel completely unrealistic. Bettina not only manages to find all the dead women somehow, but also the evidence (that police ignore, of course) and, in the end, the killer.
ALSO, the whole creepy smile carved into their faces? Yeah, we get zero explanation for that. The most spooky, chilling thing in the whole plot and it’s not even explained. Nice.
Not much happening for most of the book until the very end where all hell breaks loose. This didn’t really transmit any real emotion for me, except maybe annoyance towards Bettina.
And literally every man that came on page. They all seemed to embody the same misogynistic male prototype, all alpha bullshit and weak women. It was like everyone else was painted to seem dumb and inferior to the main character, while also inferring that every man is trash.
So yeah. No spook factor, no thrill, no fun.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
CW and tropes (spoilers):
- Death, murder, suicide
- Brief (closed doors) unprotected sex
- Attempted SA
November 2, 2025
Dead Girls Talking
⤷ ⭑⭑.𝟱
They call him The Smiley Face Killer, while Bettina calls him Dad.
⋆˙⟡₊ for over a decade, Bettina has been living in the shadow of her mother's murder at the hands of her father, who has been imprisoned ever since. in their small town of Wolf Ridge, there are no secrets, so when a body turns up in the same manner as her mother, it raises suspicions and brings back painful memories. determined to uncover the truth behind the events haunting her, she works with Eugenia, the daughter of the town's mortician, to shed light on these unanswered questions. ⊹˚
Bettina was unlikable at times. i get that she was going through a lot, but she had to understand that not everything was about her. despite the initial mistreatment, Eugenia showed unwavering support and kindness towards Bettina, even during her most difficult moments.
°⋆. ࿔*:･ 🔎 overall, i had a really fun time reading this book. it was thrilling and full of suspense, which kept me engaged until the very end. although i had theories about what was happening and who the mastermind was, the unexpected plot twists really did one on me. while the ending could have been better, it still left me feeling excited about what could happen next. a potential sequel?? who knows! i would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery novel ♡
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own!
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ⋅ pre-read: i can't believe i got the arc. it's been a while since i've read a crime/mystery novel 😈
⤷ ⭑⭑.𝟱
They call him The Smiley Face Killer, while Bettina calls him Dad.
⋆˙⟡₊ for over a decade, Bettina has been living in the shadow of her mother's murder at the hands of her father, who has been imprisoned ever since. in their small town of Wolf Ridge, there are no secrets, so when a body turns up in the same manner as her mother, it raises suspicions and brings back painful memories. determined to uncover the truth behind the events haunting her, she works with Eugenia, the daughter of the town's mortician, to shed light on these unanswered questions. ⊹˚
Bettina was unlikable at times. i get that she was going through a lot, but she had to understand that not everything was about her. despite the initial mistreatment, Eugenia showed unwavering support and kindness towards Bettina, even during her most difficult moments.
°⋆. ࿔*:･ 🔎 overall, i had a really fun time reading this book. it was thrilling and full of suspense, which kept me engaged until the very end. although i had theories about what was happening and who the mastermind was, the unexpected plot twists really did one on me. while the ending could have been better, it still left me feeling excited about what could happen next. a potential sequel?? who knows! i would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery novel ♡
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own!
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ⋅ pre-read: i can't believe i got the arc. it's been a while since i've read a crime/mystery novel 😈
March 28, 2024
from netgalley - rtc
February 22, 2025
You know what? I had fun.
May 5, 2024
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Bettina’s father is known as the Smiley Faced Killer. She testified to help convict him of killing her mother when she was younger. Ten years later, she finds a body in the woods with the same carvings as in her mother’s case. Now she wonders, was she wrong about her father and he’s innocent like he’s always claimed, or is this a copycat murder?
This is a young adult murder mystery. I like the investigative plot of the book. I really like the character Eugenia. The chapters aren’t too long, which is always a plus for me. It’s an easy read and kept my attention. I liked the ending.
Bettina’s father is known as the Smiley Faced Killer. She testified to help convict him of killing her mother when she was younger. Ten years later, she finds a body in the woods with the same carvings as in her mother’s case. Now she wonders, was she wrong about her father and he’s innocent like he’s always claimed, or is this a copycat murder?
This is a young adult murder mystery. I like the investigative plot of the book. I really like the character Eugenia. The chapters aren’t too long, which is always a plus for me. It’s an easy read and kept my attention. I liked the ending.
March 31, 2024
Reminded me of Riverdale! Thrilling read all the way through and the plot twist caught me off guard.
August 2, 2024
Overly descriptive writing style kept taking me out of the story. It’s also SUPER slow paced and I kept waiting for the plot to actually start rolling. The FMC is of the whiny, misunderstood, “why can’t everyone just leave me alone?!” type, that I despise with every fiber of my being. It’s unfortunate, because I really liked the synopsis of the book. However, it could’ve done without the main character. This book might be for some readers, but unfortunately, it was not for me. DNFd. It’s a 1⭐️ for me but it might not be for you. Feel free to make up your own mind!
February 1, 2025
Hello, I have a lot to say.
First of all, this is marketed as YA. How are you going to label a book with a sex scene in the first chapter as YA...I read this with my class and everyone (including my professor) agrees that the content in this book should make it a new adult novel. The writing was also not great and a lot of the dialogue turned me off. (Also nothing really happened until literally 50%)
Second of all, the time period. Throughout the first quarter (?) of the book I was so confused as to what year this was set in. Some small comments and details made me think it was set before the 2000s so imagine my surprise when TIKTOK was mentioned. Like what????
Also. Bett. She is SO damn annoying. She's a bully and all she can think about is her dead mother. Like yes, I get it. It's sad and I'm sorry but you can't justify being a bully just because your mom is dead. Eugenia was much more likable but Bett was just rude to her too!!! Like how are you going to claim her as a friend and make fun of her in front of your class then be a bitch to her at a party you went to after your grandmother just had a STROKE!
So there was a lot ab this I didn't like and I'm sure I'm forgetting some things but that's all for now. Sorry for the very negative review, I just did not vibe with this at all😭
First of all, this is marketed as YA. How are you going to label a book with a sex scene in the first chapter as YA...I read this with my class and everyone (including my professor) agrees that the content in this book should make it a new adult novel. The writing was also not great and a lot of the dialogue turned me off. (Also nothing really happened until literally 50%)
Second of all, the time period. Throughout the first quarter (?) of the book I was so confused as to what year this was set in. Some small comments and details made me think it was set before the 2000s so imagine my surprise when TIKTOK was mentioned. Like what????
Also. Bett. She is SO damn annoying. She's a bully and all she can think about is her dead mother. Like yes, I get it. It's sad and I'm sorry but you can't justify being a bully just because your mom is dead. Eugenia was much more likable but Bett was just rude to her too!!! Like how are you going to claim her as a friend and make fun of her in front of your class then be a bitch to her at a party you went to after your grandmother just had a STROKE!
So there was a lot ab this I didn't like and I'm sure I'm forgetting some things but that's all for now. Sorry for the very negative review, I just did not vibe with this at all😭
June 15, 2024
Bettina lives in a small town. Everyone knows that her father was arrested and is now in prison accused of being the Smiley Face Killer. Everyone knows that Bettina’s father murdered her mother a decade ago.
Years later another girl is brutally murdered and the modus operandi matches that of the Smiley Face Killer. Is it simply a copycat? Is her father an innocent man? This is the mystery that we have to solve.
The writing style was alright but it felt a bit more simple and straightforward. Which it does not have to be a bad thing. The book had good pacing and I was able to read it quite quickly. But also when things move along so quickly it can feel a little bit abrupt and choppy.
I really loved Eugenia as a character. She is considered weird because she lives basically in the mortuary but she is a good person and the one that will help Bettina crack the case.
But it was an entertaining true crime murder mystery and we have two teenage girls in a small town trying to solve it before they are next. So it definitely has a little bit of Riverdale and A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder in it.
Years later another girl is brutally murdered and the modus operandi matches that of the Smiley Face Killer. Is it simply a copycat? Is her father an innocent man? This is the mystery that we have to solve.
The writing style was alright but it felt a bit more simple and straightforward. Which it does not have to be a bad thing. The book had good pacing and I was able to read it quite quickly. But also when things move along so quickly it can feel a little bit abrupt and choppy.
I really loved Eugenia as a character. She is considered weird because she lives basically in the mortuary but she is a good person and the one that will help Bettina crack the case.
But it was an entertaining true crime murder mystery and we have two teenage girls in a small town trying to solve it before they are next. So it definitely has a little bit of Riverdale and A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder in it.
March 17, 2024
Blog
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a enjoyable read it was really slow at times and Bettina really got on my nerves but Eugenia really saved this book from being a 2 stars.
The mystery and figuring out who "the copy cat killer" was, was really fun and the ending of the mystery wasn't really a surprise to me, that was one of my theories that i had.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a enjoyable read it was really slow at times and Bettina really got on my nerves but Eugenia really saved this book from being a 2 stars.
The mystery and figuring out who "the copy cat killer" was, was really fun and the ending of the mystery wasn't really a surprise to me, that was one of my theories that i had.
January 30, 2025
I quite liked the liars daughter so was looking forward to this book but i just found the audiobook so overly dramatic, cringey and annoying. I know it's YA but it was too YA for me. Maybe if i had read it, i might have liked it better but i wasn't paying £8.99 for the kindle ebook. I listened with my Spotify hours and kinda gutted it got wasted on this book.
May 13, 2024
Check out my full thoughts on this book and more here: booktube reviews :)
Title: Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson
Publication Date- 06/18/24
Publisher- Holiday
Overall Rating- 4 out of 5 stars
Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very solid YA mystery. At started to write out the synopsis but go read the one from the publisher and come back to this review. Okay… now first off, this book achieves exactly what it said it was going to. The synopsis is well written and truly sets readers up for accurate expectations. Overall the writing is fast paced and engaging, I would say you could expect it to feel similar to a popcorn thriller.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere, a funeral home owner's daughter, ghost tours in the time, a lot of commentary on true crime obsession and podcasts. The author kept me interested until the end. I wanted to know what the resolution was and was very satisfied. I will say, the answer to the mystery floated around in my head a time or two but I wouldn’t say I guessed everything correctly.
The characters are fully developed and don’t feel flat. This is a YA novel and the characters acted within age appropriate means. I comment on this because I can’t stand YA mysteries where the characters just act absurd. This was not the case, everything felt cohesive and made sense. Of course because we have teenage amateur sleuth’s we do have suspend some disbelief but I didn’t find that it took me out of the story or was a chore to do.
All around a fast faced, enjoyable, YA mystery. I enjoyed the female friendships, small town atmosphere and pacing of the story. It wasn't too long nor too short and hit just right.
Title: Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson
Publication Date- 06/18/24
Publisher- Holiday
Overall Rating- 4 out of 5 stars
Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very solid YA mystery. At started to write out the synopsis but go read the one from the publisher and come back to this review. Okay… now first off, this book achieves exactly what it said it was going to. The synopsis is well written and truly sets readers up for accurate expectations. Overall the writing is fast paced and engaging, I would say you could expect it to feel similar to a popcorn thriller.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere, a funeral home owner's daughter, ghost tours in the time, a lot of commentary on true crime obsession and podcasts. The author kept me interested until the end. I wanted to know what the resolution was and was very satisfied. I will say, the answer to the mystery floated around in my head a time or two but I wouldn’t say I guessed everything correctly.
The characters are fully developed and don’t feel flat. This is a YA novel and the characters acted within age appropriate means. I comment on this because I can’t stand YA mysteries where the characters just act absurd. This was not the case, everything felt cohesive and made sense. Of course because we have teenage amateur sleuth’s we do have suspend some disbelief but I didn’t find that it took me out of the story or was a chore to do.
All around a fast faced, enjoyable, YA mystery. I enjoyed the female friendships, small town atmosphere and pacing of the story. It wasn't too long nor too short and hit just right.
May 19, 2024
“The town of Wolf Ridge calls him The Smiley Face Killer. Bettina Holland calls him her father.”
Dead Girls Talking follows Bettina, the daughter of a terrible tragedy. When she was six, her father murdered her mother when she was in the other room. She testified against her father and has had to live with vultures coming after her for podcast, murder tours, and docuseries interviews. She’s always believed her father was guilty … until a string of copycat murders force her to question her belief. Bett teams up with the mortician’s daughter, Eugenia, to uncover the truth about who really killed Bett’s mother and who is killing women again in their town.
If you’re looking for a new YA mystery with a creepy serial killer and angry girls, look no further! This was such a good mystery with the biggest twist at the end—I did not, at all, see it coming. Still shocked and reeling! Such a good twist!!
The vibes in this book are so good. I love seeing teen girls investigating, especially with such a tense atmosphere, and danger around every corner. And it was such a frustrating town that really operates on old money, status, and gender. It’s a super gripping, gritty story that will keep you guessing.
I really enjoyed Bett’s character. She’s gone through so much in her life and her current state—a bit messy, and definitely angry—felt very realistic to her past trauma. I loved that even though she lost friends, she found a true friend in Eugenia. They were so good together! I loved the progression of their friendship and thought they had such good chemistry. Bett’s family was SO frustrating, but I can definitely see where her grandparents are coming from and why they’re super protective.
Overall, a really great mystery with an explosive ending and an amazing female friendship/investigating duo!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Dead Girls Talking follows Bettina, the daughter of a terrible tragedy. When she was six, her father murdered her mother when she was in the other room. She testified against her father and has had to live with vultures coming after her for podcast, murder tours, and docuseries interviews. She’s always believed her father was guilty … until a string of copycat murders force her to question her belief. Bett teams up with the mortician’s daughter, Eugenia, to uncover the truth about who really killed Bett’s mother and who is killing women again in their town.
If you’re looking for a new YA mystery with a creepy serial killer and angry girls, look no further! This was such a good mystery with the biggest twist at the end—I did not, at all, see it coming. Still shocked and reeling! Such a good twist!!
The vibes in this book are so good. I love seeing teen girls investigating, especially with such a tense atmosphere, and danger around every corner. And it was such a frustrating town that really operates on old money, status, and gender. It’s a super gripping, gritty story that will keep you guessing.
I really enjoyed Bett’s character. She’s gone through so much in her life and her current state—a bit messy, and definitely angry—felt very realistic to her past trauma. I loved that even though she lost friends, she found a true friend in Eugenia. They were so good together! I loved the progression of their friendship and thought they had such good chemistry. Bett’s family was SO frustrating, but I can definitely see where her grandparents are coming from and why they’re super protective.
Overall, a really great mystery with an explosive ending and an amazing female friendship/investigating duo!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 11, 2024
"Dead Girls Talking" is a ya thriller novel written by Megan Cooley Peterson.
Dark, intriguing and compelling book that absorbed me completely! The captivating writing, fast pace and short chapters made it almost impossible for me to tear myself away from the pages, prompting me to finish it in less than a day. "Dead Girls Talking" is a story about serial killers, murders, violence against women, complicated family relationships and bullying, but it is also a story of friendship, hope and justice. A dynamic, gritty and powerful thriller full of mysteries, deceptions, lies and secrets. I was fascinated by the small town of Wolf Ridge, a seemingly placid and peaceful place, where everyone knows everyone and knows everything about everyone, that in reality hides a deep darkness. Most of all, I loved Bett (with her only first person pov) and Eugenia, the novel's protagonists. Two complex and tormented girls, marked by their respective demons, portrayed beautifully. Seriously, I loved everything about this book, and I cannot express anything but kudos!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dark, intriguing and compelling book that absorbed me completely! The captivating writing, fast pace and short chapters made it almost impossible for me to tear myself away from the pages, prompting me to finish it in less than a day. "Dead Girls Talking" is a story about serial killers, murders, violence against women, complicated family relationships and bullying, but it is also a story of friendship, hope and justice. A dynamic, gritty and powerful thriller full of mysteries, deceptions, lies and secrets. I was fascinated by the small town of Wolf Ridge, a seemingly placid and peaceful place, where everyone knows everyone and knows everything about everyone, that in reality hides a deep darkness. Most of all, I loved Bett (with her only first person pov) and Eugenia, the novel's protagonists. Two complex and tormented girls, marked by their respective demons, portrayed beautifully. Seriously, I loved everything about this book, and I cannot express anything but kudos!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2024
"Violence seems to be a language all men speak."
perfect YA crime solving novel with a non-glamorizing look at true crime 🙏 it hit all the marks, from stupid teenage behavior to plot progression and ultimately the crime solved, though it was partly pretty predictable. Eugenia was kind of cliché yet the best character of the book, "women help women" 👑
[arc review, honest opinion]
perfect YA crime solving novel with a non-glamorizing look at true crime 🙏 it hit all the marks, from stupid teenage behavior to plot progression and ultimately the crime solved, though it was partly pretty predictable. Eugenia was kind of cliché yet the best character of the book, "women help women" 👑
[arc review, honest opinion]
September 27, 2024
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I want to get a positive out straight away. I really enjoyed this twist ending. I had a pretty good idea where the story was going, but Peterson managed to rug sweep me, and even leave a crack in the door for a potential follow up someday.
Do I want to read a follow up? No, I don't.
The premise here is pretty great. A teenage girl whose mother was murdered by her father when she was 6 years old, and she was the only witness, who testified against him and send him to prison. That's not a unique plot, but it's still a fun one.
He even gets a moniker, which is strange, because those are generally reserved for serial killers. Solo killers don't usually get a nickname.
10 years later, women who look a lot like her mother start turning up dead, in the same manner, and Bettina befriends the local undertaker's daughter to solve the crime that the police aren't even remotely interested in.
Doesn't that sound really cool?
Sigh.
The biggest issue for me is the writing style. I still enjoy YA, though I've gotten pretty far outside of the genre with my enormous reading slump. I've always said YA authors work harder than adult authors, to keep the attention of a reader of any age.
This author...I mean, I think no, wait, I'm wrong. I thought she was a fairly new writer, she has published quite a few books. Damn. Okay, my excuses are failing me.
We bounce from paper thin writing to suddenly a completely random pop of purple prose dropped in, followed by more paper thin writing. It's like drawing with crayons on printer paper then suddenly using a splash of water color. It doesn't fit.
Ending this review with one funny note, to immortalize a random coincidence that made me laugh.
I had just gotten to the part of the story where Bettina finds out Netflix is doing a documentary about the Smiley Face killer, when my coworker interrupted my reading with the sentence, "So, HBO is doing a documentary-"
I jolted a bit, and almost laughed. He went on to tell me it's a documentary about real-life crimes that have happened on Elm Streets around the country (or world? Not sure). It's called The Real Murders on Elm Street, if you're curious.
We spoke about it shortly, I told him about the scene I'd been reading when he said that, and we had a laugh.
Cut to some pages later, and I discover that the murders in this book happen on, YOU GUESSED IT, Elm Street.
"Matt, WTF."
I want to get a positive out straight away. I really enjoyed this twist ending. I had a pretty good idea where the story was going, but Peterson managed to rug sweep me, and even leave a crack in the door for a potential follow up someday.
Do I want to read a follow up? No, I don't.
The premise here is pretty great. A teenage girl whose mother was murdered by her father when she was 6 years old, and she was the only witness, who testified against him and send him to prison. That's not a unique plot, but it's still a fun one.
He even gets a moniker, which is strange, because those are generally reserved for serial killers. Solo killers don't usually get a nickname.
10 years later, women who look a lot like her mother start turning up dead, in the same manner, and Bettina befriends the local undertaker's daughter to solve the crime that the police aren't even remotely interested in.
Doesn't that sound really cool?
Sigh.
The biggest issue for me is the writing style. I still enjoy YA, though I've gotten pretty far outside of the genre with my enormous reading slump. I've always said YA authors work harder than adult authors, to keep the attention of a reader of any age.
This author...I mean, I think no, wait, I'm wrong. I thought she was a fairly new writer, she has published quite a few books. Damn. Okay, my excuses are failing me.
We bounce from paper thin writing to suddenly a completely random pop of purple prose dropped in, followed by more paper thin writing. It's like drawing with crayons on printer paper then suddenly using a splash of water color. It doesn't fit.
Ending this review with one funny note, to immortalize a random coincidence that made me laugh.
I had just gotten to the part of the story where Bettina finds out Netflix is doing a documentary about the Smiley Face killer, when my coworker interrupted my reading with the sentence, "So, HBO is doing a documentary-"
I jolted a bit, and almost laughed. He went on to tell me it's a documentary about real-life crimes that have happened on Elm Streets around the country (or world? Not sure). It's called The Real Murders on Elm Street, if you're curious.
We spoke about it shortly, I told him about the scene I'd been reading when he said that, and we had a laugh.
Cut to some pages later, and I discover that the murders in this book happen on, YOU GUESSED IT, Elm Street.
"Matt, WTF."
December 18, 2024
PSA THERE ARE NO GIRLS KISSING IN THIS BOOK!!! IT IS NOT SAPPHIC!!
Otherwise a bland take on the ethics of true crime with a writing style that would have fit in in 2008 (NOT 2024)
Otherwise a bland take on the ethics of true crime with a writing style that would have fit in in 2008 (NOT 2024)
June 13, 2024
3.75 ⭐️
Thanks to Holiday House for sending me a review copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This doesn’t affect my thoughts in any way. Dead Girls Talking will be out on 06/18/24!
Growing up in the small town of Wolf Ridge, North Carolina, daughter of the “Smiley Face Killer” Bettina Holland was always the subject of murder podcasts, murder tours, and even an upcoming docuseries. But ten years after her father’s conviction, a copycat serial killer suddenly starts recreating the string of murders, making Bettina question the truth: did Trapper McGrath really kill his wife? As she goes to investigate alongside “goth kid” Eugenia Cline, they soon uncover the secrets buried by everyone close to her, and maybe the fact that the killer has always been watching her.
This story certainly had potential to be a really good thriller, if not for the fact that it was vaguely underdeveloped in terms of characterization, especially Bette’s dynamic with Eugenia, considering both of them were likely main characters. The execution also lacked in thrill and build-up which led to an anticlimactic conclusion. The ending was underwhelming, and I feel that some of the issues could have been addressed in the epilogue. However, I didn’t read this with the lights off so I would still recommend this book.
Also, I wish there was actually a TW that Bette would throw up a LOT because it actually made me nauseous. Other CWs include Domestic/Physical and Emotional Abuse, Vomit, & Panic Attacks/Disorders
Thanks to Holiday House for sending me a review copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This doesn’t affect my thoughts in any way. Dead Girls Talking will be out on 06/18/24!
Growing up in the small town of Wolf Ridge, North Carolina, daughter of the “Smiley Face Killer” Bettina Holland was always the subject of murder podcasts, murder tours, and even an upcoming docuseries. But ten years after her father’s conviction, a copycat serial killer suddenly starts recreating the string of murders, making Bettina question the truth: did Trapper McGrath really kill his wife? As she goes to investigate alongside “goth kid” Eugenia Cline, they soon uncover the secrets buried by everyone close to her, and maybe the fact that the killer has always been watching her.
This story certainly had potential to be a really good thriller, if not for the fact that it was vaguely underdeveloped in terms of characterization, especially Bette’s dynamic with Eugenia, considering both of them were likely main characters. The execution also lacked in thrill and build-up which led to an anticlimactic conclusion. The ending was underwhelming, and I feel that some of the issues could have been addressed in the epilogue. However, I didn’t read this with the lights off so I would still recommend this book.
Also, I wish there was actually a TW that Bette would throw up a LOT because it actually made me nauseous. Other CWs include Domestic/Physical and Emotional Abuse, Vomit, & Panic Attacks/Disorders
February 25, 2025
For anyone looking for YA thriller for teens, I highly suggest Dead Girls Talking. It had a similar vibe to A Good Girls Guide to Murder as Bettina and Eugenia are trying to solve a string of murders in their hometown, including Bettina's mother's. Her father Trapper, is currently serving a life sentence for her mother's murder when she was six but he's always claimed his innocence and now new murders are taking place in the same manner, 10 years later. Dead Girls Talking is a little dark and twisted, and honestly, I didn't expect the twist at the end.
April 16, 2024
2.75
First of all, I would like to thank Holiday House and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of Dead Girls Talking.
In all honesty, when I requested this book, I was in a Heathers: The Musical high (Dead Girl Walking…Get it?). By any means, I had no expectations for this book whatsoever. And one of my goals this year is to read more mysteries.
For someone who doesn’t read a lot of mysteries, it all comes down to one reason: I’m picky with them. A lot of mysteries have disappointed me because the twist isn’t good or it’s just not believable at all. Dead Girls Talking didn’t really disappoint me, but it did not wow me either. I’ve read better, and I’ve read worse. However, one thing I liked about this book was the pacing. Even though the mystery itself wasn’t that interesting for me, I could not put this book down because it was so easy to read.
Dead Girls Talking is about Bettina’s father who has been arrested for killing her mom. However, lately, there have been numerous killings in the town of Wolf Ridge similar to the killing of her mom. It all comes down to one question: Did her father really kill her mom?
In this novel, we follow two characters: Bett, the daughter of the serial killer, and Eugenia, the mortician’s daughter. Together, they try to solve the town’s mystery.
One issue I had with this book is that the characters are so undeveloped. They felt so one-dimensional. Even Bett herself was one-dimensioned. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves in mysteries because you’re trying to find out who the killer is. The ‘twist would be unbelievable’ if your characters are one-dimensional. Because if so, you just wrote the killer for the shock and not because of the plot.
The plot twists were poorly done. The theories were thrown around just as it is and weren’t dug into as deep as I wanted them to be. There were extreme guesses and there were no real backup sources for them. Like, I guess it’s good to expect the unknown, but it kind of went down to: there’s no source, just trust me, bro.
I hate comparing books to other books, but it felt like the book was trying to be somehow like ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’. It seems uncanny that some of the plot points are similar.
Now, onto the things that I liked, I really like plot, and it felt like the plot was really well thought of. Everything was there for a reason, which I really loved. As I mentioned earlier, I really liked the pacing of the novel. It’s what every mystery book should be. Quick, gritty, and unputdownable.
In short, if you love mysteries, I think that this is still worth a read. And if you really loved ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ and want something similar, then why not give it a shot?
First of all, I would like to thank Holiday House and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of Dead Girls Talking.
In all honesty, when I requested this book, I was in a Heathers: The Musical high (Dead Girl Walking…Get it?). By any means, I had no expectations for this book whatsoever. And one of my goals this year is to read more mysteries.
For someone who doesn’t read a lot of mysteries, it all comes down to one reason: I’m picky with them. A lot of mysteries have disappointed me because the twist isn’t good or it’s just not believable at all. Dead Girls Talking didn’t really disappoint me, but it did not wow me either. I’ve read better, and I’ve read worse. However, one thing I liked about this book was the pacing. Even though the mystery itself wasn’t that interesting for me, I could not put this book down because it was so easy to read.
Dead Girls Talking is about Bettina’s father who has been arrested for killing her mom. However, lately, there have been numerous killings in the town of Wolf Ridge similar to the killing of her mom. It all comes down to one question: Did her father really kill her mom?
In this novel, we follow two characters: Bett, the daughter of the serial killer, and Eugenia, the mortician’s daughter. Together, they try to solve the town’s mystery.
One issue I had with this book is that the characters are so undeveloped. They felt so one-dimensional. Even Bett herself was one-dimensioned. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves in mysteries because you’re trying to find out who the killer is. The ‘twist would be unbelievable’ if your characters are one-dimensional. Because if so, you just wrote the killer for the shock and not because of the plot.
The plot twists were poorly done. The theories were thrown around just as it is and weren’t dug into as deep as I wanted them to be. There were extreme guesses and there were no real backup sources for them. Like, I guess it’s good to expect the unknown, but it kind of went down to: there’s no source, just trust me, bro.
I hate comparing books to other books, but it felt like the book was trying to be somehow like ‘A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder’. It seems uncanny that some of the plot points are similar.
Now, onto the things that I liked, I really like plot, and it felt like the plot was really well thought of. Everything was there for a reason, which I really loved. As I mentioned earlier, I really liked the pacing of the novel. It’s what every mystery book should be. Quick, gritty, and unputdownable.
In short, if you love mysteries, I think that this is still worth a read. And if you really loved ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ and want something similar, then why not give it a shot?
March 31, 2024
4 stars
There's a lot to say about this book. Overall I really enjoyed the book and I should probably read this genre more often.
First of all, the writing style is very easy to read. It didn't take me a long time to read the chapters (or the overall book). The book is definetely meant for a YA audience, the focus of some of the descriptions is right out of the mind of a 16 year old. If this is something you don't enjoy, then I would advise you to not read this book as you read in the first person narrative of a teenage girl.
On to the characters; our FMC Bettina, Bett for short, is a bit all over the place. We learn very little about what makes Bett tick. At some point, we learn Bett wants to become an actress, but I couldn't tell you why; there's no further explanation for her "passion" besides the fact that she just doesn't want to be a lawyer like her granddad wants her to be.
The relationships she builds with the other characters in the book are all quite shallow in my opinion. The only relationship that seems to grow during our plot is the one with Eugenia.
I wouldn't say I particularly like Bett, some of her choices and actions were not something I can get behind. Bett's actions sometimes border on bullying, which is something that was tough to read as I found myself lacking sympathy for her at a later point in the book.
The idea and the plot were very interesting. I like how the killer stays secret for a big part of the book and how I couldn't immediately tell who would be the killer. The actual reveal was quite a surprise to me, as I had my money on another character for the killer.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the plot. I would have given the book 5 stars if there would have been more personality in the characters and some decent character growth.
I would recommend this book if you're into YA thriller mysteries and want an easy, entertaining read.
There's a lot to say about this book. Overall I really enjoyed the book and I should probably read this genre more often.
First of all, the writing style is very easy to read. It didn't take me a long time to read the chapters (or the overall book). The book is definetely meant for a YA audience, the focus of some of the descriptions is right out of the mind of a 16 year old. If this is something you don't enjoy, then I would advise you to not read this book as you read in the first person narrative of a teenage girl.
On to the characters; our FMC Bettina, Bett for short, is a bit all over the place. We learn very little about what makes Bett tick. At some point, we learn Bett wants to become an actress, but I couldn't tell you why; there's no further explanation for her "passion" besides the fact that she just doesn't want to be a lawyer like her granddad wants her to be.
The relationships she builds with the other characters in the book are all quite shallow in my opinion. The only relationship that seems to grow during our plot is the one with Eugenia.
I wouldn't say I particularly like Bett, some of her choices and actions were not something I can get behind. Bett's actions sometimes border on bullying, which is something that was tough to read as I found myself lacking sympathy for her at a later point in the book.
The idea and the plot were very interesting. I like how the killer stays secret for a big part of the book and how I couldn't immediately tell who would be the killer. The actual reveal was quite a surprise to me, as I had my money on another character for the killer.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the plot. I would have given the book 5 stars if there would have been more personality in the characters and some decent character growth.
I would recommend this book if you're into YA thriller mysteries and want an easy, entertaining read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2024
thank you netgalley for an early arc copy, all my thoughts are my opinion
This was a good time. I was so excited for this book and when I saw that netgallery had an arc registration open I signed up as soon as I could. And I got it! I really liked reading this book. I loved this book because it reminded me of criminal minds. And if you know me, I am obsessed with that series. It only reminded me of that show because of the vibes, and solving a mystery. but that was enough for me. This plot has a murder set when bettina was still a child, and at time her mother is murdered in a very brutal way. They all said that her father had done it and she was a key witness in the conviction of her father. but till this day she doesn’t know for sure if she saw what she said she saw. it makes her question herself till this day. especially when a new murder started happening that looks identical to her mother murder. we have one: we do have a copycat or two: the murder is still out there. in the end there is a big plot twist and if you are a thriller reader you probably see it coming, I did way before the ending. Our characters are fun to follow. Bettina is very complexed. She of course went through so much. and you see her make mistakes in the beginning, but in the end she tries to do what is right. there was one part in the book when they are asking questions and looking back on the transcripts that it was a lot of info dumping by the author I know that the info was necessary but it could have been done with a few more pages in the book, i would have not mind if the book was 50 pages longer. The writing style is good, especially for a debut novel. it made reading this book easy to follow and the pacing was good.
so overall I had a really good time with this book. It was very fast paced and thrilling with a good plot twist at the end.
This was a good time. I was so excited for this book and when I saw that netgallery had an arc registration open I signed up as soon as I could. And I got it! I really liked reading this book. I loved this book because it reminded me of criminal minds. And if you know me, I am obsessed with that series. It only reminded me of that show because of the vibes, and solving a mystery. but that was enough for me. This plot has a murder set when bettina was still a child, and at time her mother is murdered in a very brutal way. They all said that her father had done it and she was a key witness in the conviction of her father. but till this day she doesn’t know for sure if she saw what she said she saw. it makes her question herself till this day. especially when a new murder started happening that looks identical to her mother murder. we have one: we do have a copycat or two: the murder is still out there. in the end there is a big plot twist and if you are a thriller reader you probably see it coming, I did way before the ending. Our characters are fun to follow. Bettina is very complexed. She of course went through so much. and you see her make mistakes in the beginning, but in the end she tries to do what is right. there was one part in the book when they are asking questions and looking back on the transcripts that it was a lot of info dumping by the author I know that the info was necessary but it could have been done with a few more pages in the book, i would have not mind if the book was 50 pages longer. The writing style is good, especially for a debut novel. it made reading this book easy to follow and the pacing was good.
so overall I had a really good time with this book. It was very fast paced and thrilling with a good plot twist at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2024
Thank you Holiday House and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Bettina lost her mother at a young age, worse her father killed her mother. Not only did he kill her but he carved a smile into after she was dead, labeling him the Smile Face Killer. It’s been ten years since then and on a walk back from visiting her mom’s grave she stumbles a crossed another dead body. Same M.O. as her mother. Only this couldn’t have been her father because he’s locked up. Though he has always maintained his innocence. Considering Bett was the key witness to her father’s crime, is she misremembering what happened? The only person who shows interest in figure out what’s going on is the funeral director’s daughter Eugenia. Together the two will investigate what happened to this latest victim and simultaneously learn more about what happened to Bett’s mother. But will she be able to show that it was her father that killed her? Or is her world about to be shattered? In a small town that doesn’t seem to value women very much the two will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. I’ll admit that it took a little bit for me to get fully into this one but only because I couldn’t understand the utter conviction that she had, especially had there was some doubt, convenient doubt, but still doubt. But then I understood! It’s full of twists and will keep you guessing and eager to find out if her dad is innocent! The ending was shocking, even know there are things that could lead you there, but they never quite seemed likely so your still shocked! Megan Cooley Peterson tells a fast paced story that’ll keep you hooked! Highly recommend!
Merged review:
Thank you Holiday House and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Bettina lost her mother at a young age, worse her father killed her mother. Not only did he kill her but he carved a smile into after she was dead, labeling him the Smile Face Killer. It’s been ten years since then and on a walk back from visiting her mom’s grave she stumbles a crossed another dead body. Same M.O. as her mother. Only this couldn’t have been her father because he’s locked up. Though he has always maintained his innocence. Considering Bett was the key witness to her father’s crime, is she misremembering what happened? The only person who shows interest in figure out what’s going on is the funeral director’s daughter Eugenia. Together the two will investigate what happened to this latest victim and simultaneously learn more about what happened to Bett’s mother. But will she be able to show that it was her father that killed her? Or is her world about to be shattered? In a small town that doesn’t seem to value women very much the two will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. I’ll admit that it took a little bit for me to get fully into this one but only because I couldn’t understand the utter conviction that she had, especially had there was some doubt, convenient doubt, but still doubt. But then I understood! It’s full of twists and will keep you guessing and eager to find out if her dad is innocent! The ending was shocking, even know there are things that could lead you there, but they never quite seemed likely so your still shocked! Megan Cooley Peterson tells a fast paced story that’ll keep you hooked! Highly recommend!
Merged review:
Thank you Holiday House and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Bettina lost her mother at a young age, worse her father killed her mother. Not only did he kill her but he carved a smile into after she was dead, labeling him the Smile Face Killer. It’s been ten years since then and on a walk back from visiting her mom’s grave she stumbles a crossed another dead body. Same M.O. as her mother. Only this couldn’t have been her father because he’s locked up. Though he has always maintained his innocence. Considering Bett was the key witness to her father’s crime, is she misremembering what happened? The only person who shows interest in figure out what’s going on is the funeral director’s daughter Eugenia. Together the two will investigate what happened to this latest victim and simultaneously learn more about what happened to Bett’s mother. But will she be able to show that it was her father that killed her? Or is her world about to be shattered? In a small town that doesn’t seem to value women very much the two will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. I’ll admit that it took a little bit for me to get fully into this one but only because I couldn’t understand the utter conviction that she had, especially had there was some doubt, convenient doubt, but still doubt. But then I understood! It’s full of twists and will keep you guessing and eager to find out if her dad is innocent! The ending was shocking, even know there are things that could lead you there, but they never quite seemed likely so your still shocked! Megan Cooley Peterson tells a fast paced story that’ll keep you hooked! Highly recommend!
October 30, 2024
Despite the not so nice reviews, I actually genuinely enjoyed this book. I think Bettina was perfectly depicted as a flawed, perpetually hurt, and at times, extremely irrational teen. Even though the things she did or said drove me bonkers, I understood that she's just a jagged person learning how to navigate her world with unresolved feelings regarding her moms death, her estranged relationship with her father in prison, and trying to live up to unreasonable expectations of her grandparents.
I do agree the story was a tad fast paced, but I actually enjoyed how it all unraveled. I liked the authors red herrings but I figured it out about half way through, when she would drop these seemingly innocent but out of pocket observances of certain characters.
I read a lot of hate about the love interest. I think that was the point. You weren't supposed to love him. I think you were always supposed to put him at an arms length. This isn't star crossed lovers. She was looking for an escape and he kinda offered it but he wasn't supposed to fit the part. He was kinda like a rectangle in a square hole.
Also, Eugenia was seriously my favorite character. Little odd, socially inept, just cut through the bullshit kinda gal. She's a true Girls girl!
I do agree the story was a tad fast paced, but I actually enjoyed how it all unraveled. I liked the authors red herrings but I figured it out about half way through, when she would drop these seemingly innocent but out of pocket observances of certain characters.
I read a lot of hate about the love interest. I think that was the point. You weren't supposed to love him. I think you were always supposed to put him at an arms length. This isn't star crossed lovers. She was looking for an escape and he kinda offered it but he wasn't supposed to fit the part. He was kinda like a rectangle in a square hole.
Also, Eugenia was seriously my favorite character. Little odd, socially inept, just cut through the bullshit kinda gal. She's a true Girls girl!
May 31, 2024
I am not fully sure how to rate this book, I enjoyed it but it wasn't ground breaking.
The name of the book made me think there was probably something supernatural going on but there where not literally Dead Girls that were talking.
The intimate scenes with Xavier feels like they were just put in because...every book these days has got them 'so this book should too'. I wish the author did a little more with his character.
In the beginning the main character does suffer from 'I'm not like other girls' but she does have some character development and learns to appreciate the people close to her.
Overal a good book! Would definitely recommend this to people.
The name of the book made me think there was probably something supernatural going on but there where not literally Dead Girls that were talking.
The intimate scenes with Xavier feels like they were just put in because...every book these days has got them 'so this book should too'. I wish the author did a little more with his character.
In the beginning the main character does suffer from 'I'm not like other girls' but she does have some character development and learns to appreciate the people close to her.
Overal a good book! Would definitely recommend this to people.
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