The Dead Will Never Haunt Me

Murder, She Wrote #3

by Stephanie Kuehn

Small town murders.

Big time thrills.

The final installment in the suspenseful, modern update of the classic mystery TV series. Perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying, Sadie, and Gossip Girl.

"What does it mean if our own sense of right and wrong isn't enough to keep us from committing the unspeakable?"

When Beatrice Fletcher joins her father on a work trip to the University of New Mexico, she knows she's sacrificing time with her friends back in Cabot Cove trying to solve the last clue of an enigmatic game they've been playing. Yet it's worth it if it means she can interview celebrated film studies professor William Vance, whose newest documentary touches on a murderous cult, a misdirected bombing, and a tragedy from Bea's mother's childhood.

But when a string of poisonings targets girls in Vance's film program, Bea has more to worry about than ancient family history. Someone knew she was coming to campus and why. And now that she's insinuated herself into the students' circle, could she be next on the hit list? Like her great aunt Jessica, Bea will need cunning and logic to get to the bottom of the attacks and figure out what all of it has to do with the game back home.

And time is running out...

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Contemporary

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[maddox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bea Fletcher is back on her murder magnet BS, and this time? She’s not even in Cabot Cove. The Dead Will Never Haunt Me takes our teen detective from misty Maine to sunbaked New Mexico, supposedly for a relaxing trip with her dad. But because Bea can’t walk five feet without tripping over a corpse or a conspiracy, it’s only a matter of time before bodies start hitting the floor.

This time it’s not just any murder mystery — it’s poisonings at a university film program run by a professor with a dark past and even darker connections. William Vance, documentary filmmaker and walking red flag, made a name for himself exposing a cult called the Starlight Society. That same cult? Yeah, turns out it’s tangled up in Bea’s family history, and by “tangled up” I mean her dead mom may or may not have been involved. Therapy bills, incoming.

As the poisonings escalate, Bea finds herself on a psychological tightrope between grief, guilt, and good old-fashioned danger. Someone knows she’s asking questions. Someone knows why. And someone wants her to stop — permanently.

Kuehn knows how to turn emotional trauma into plot momentum, and Bea’s character development here is sharp, raw, and achingly real. She’s still a high-functioning disaster, but now she’s staring down the kinds of moral dilemmas you don’t find in Nancy Drew books. Is she solving a murder, or uncovering her mother’s sins? And does she even want the truth?

What makes this book hit different is how it blends campus noir with cult psychology. The academic setting is sterile and bright, but it hums with secrets. Bea's interactions with the film students are layered with paranoia, and the deeper she digs, the more the boundaries blur between who’s a witness, who’s a suspect, and who’s just a kid playing a very dangerous game.

The ending is sharp, maybe a little fast, but it lands emotionally. Some subplots fade into the background (because there are so many), but the emotional payoff? Solid. Chilling, even.

This isn't just a murder mystery. It’s a story about what it means to inherit darkness — and whether knowing the truth actually sets you free, or just traps you in a new kind of lie. 3.5 stars — colder than a New Mexico night and just as sharp.

Whodunity Award: Creepiest Cult Lore in a Teen Mystery

[T Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one too! Although it was very confusing at times, I didnt know what was going on half of the book and who to trust and who not to, everyone was suspicious. Also why couldn’t Bea remember certain stuff, I thought she was being drugged? but that wasn’t cleared up and just kinda went away i guess? I did not expect it to be who it was, that was shocking and i did not see it coming at all, the ending of the book was sweet, i ship Leif and Bea (since the 2nd book) and kept hoping they were gonna get together but unfortunately not. I wish we knew how the tenace game ended, was that on purpose? or will there be a next book? All in all a great book but not quite a 5 star since i still have some unanswered questions.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow this book has even less in common with the original Murder, She Wrote. Bea leaves Cabot Cove for a trip to New Mexico (because she... wanted to spend time with her dad? but then didn't spend any time with him? so... why is she here? idk it was weird lol) The whole book felt like one giant info-dump with occasional breaks for Bea to make bad decisions. I don't like cult storylines for mysteries; personally, they're never interesting and always depressing. This was the worst of the series so far in my opinion, but hey, I read it. The cover is really pretty. It's got that going for it.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This looks to be the end of this trilogy (?) of sequels to MURDER SHE WROTE. Here Bea and her father travel to New Mexico to meet up with a professor and others who help Dad's work and also help Bea learn more about her deceased mother. Being away from Cabot Cove means there is no consulting with Aunt Jess until the very end of the story, which is the main attraction for me to read these books, so I was a bit disappointed in that. Otherwise, the mystery was acceptable and fun to try to solve. I am unsure if this is the end of the series, but I will continue to track the author, just in case.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love me some Murder, She Wrote, and while this trilogy started off strong, it became less engaging as it went on. There was an overarching mystery involving a game the kids were playing, but I gradually lost interest in it over the course of the three books. Returning to that storyline repeatedly pulled us away from the current mystery being investigated, which was frustrating. Also, there were just too many characters to keep track of. I dunno… I think I’ll stick to the standalone, episodic mysteries set in the original series timeline.

[Teghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just awful. We're away from the town, which doesn't match the previous two books and, as suspected, the larger mysteries and corner she wrote herself into were NOT solved. Is there going to be more in this series? I suspect not. This entire series needed to be reconceptualized from the beginning - the core concept was great and I liked the characters.....but wow.

[William Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't want this to be the end! Why were all those people Bea knew on the boat?! Did they win?! What's on the Island?! I need more adventures with Bea !! This was a fun trilogy to read though, really well constructed. A great way to update the Murder She Wrote series without rebooting or retconning the original

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Public library copy

Fun series. A little too long and introspective for middle school, and I don't think anyone of my students would appreciate the Jessica Fletcher connection, but a good way to spend the weekend.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read from audiobooks and I’ve loved every chapter. ❤️ A great book

[Llyr Heller-Humphreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun series.

[Michelle Abrameit · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just bad. Too many storylines and propaganda, and somehow I was still bored to tears.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this out of the library on a whim. I think it's definitely meant for a YA audience - I'm better off sticking to the classics!

[Jamie Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

the dead will never huant me by Stephanie kuehn. out of the three this was the best by far the worrying was far better than the first two and the story want all over the place like the previous books