Lost in the Garden of Eve

Keke McCoy #2

by L. Divine

Nancy Drew meets P-Valley in a unique blend of thrilling crime fiction, timely social commentary, and the power of sisterhood in this captivating homage to the “lesser dead” for readers of Rachel Howzell Hall, Kellye Garrett, Wanda M. Morris, and Denise Mina.  When former Atlanta stripper-turned-reporter Keke McCoy finds fame after solving the gruesome ritualistic murder of a fellow dancer, she’s tapped to investigate the unsolved disappearance of underage dancers from her teenage stomping grounds, The Pimp Palace.

Keke’s head is still spinning—and not just because of the hit she took securing a bombshell confession for her last story. On top of her full-time job with the Metro Journal, Keke now has an online column devoted to exposing unsolved murders of young people of color. She’s also freelancing as an investigative journalist in Indian Springs, where she maintains her rekindled relationship with her former employer and mentor, Honey Spot club owner Josephine “HoneyMama” Thibodeaux.

Keke’s Metro boss, Charlie, isn’t impressed with her extracurricular fame, but she’s soon back at her teenage stomping grounds, The Pimp Palace, where several off-the-books, underage dancers have gone missing under suspicious circumstances. When she unearths troubling connections between some of the cases, Keke calls on the assistance of Detective Elijah Drew—her former man, occasional lover—and maybe her future . . .

To up their game, Keke and Elijah realize they need someone on the inside. Keke recruits Dulce, a talented Honey Spot dancer and one of the victim’s girlfriends who helped to crack the last case. Even HoneyMama is willing to put her neck on the line—again—to find out what happened, since several of the victims’ belongings included her contact information.

With a common mission, all involved dive down a very dangerous, very corrupt rabbit hole no one saw coming—except the mastermind who anxiously awaits their fall—especially Keke’s . . .

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

L. Divine is a young female author of the young adult fiction series Drama High. L. Divine is also a priestess who is originally from California, has lived in Jamaica and currently resides with her children in Atlanta. She also holds advanced degrees in African American studies from UCLA.

Reviews

[Sandra Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book delivers a bold, gritty crime story centered on Keke McCoy, a reporter who finds herself pulled back into the dangerous world she once escaped. After gaining recognition for solving a ritualistic murder, Keke is asked to investigate the disappearance of underage dancers connected to her old teenage stomping grounds, The Pimp Palace. What starts as investigative journalism quickly turns personal and deeply risky.

The strongest element of the story is its atmosphere and social commentary. The book doesn’t shy away from corruption, exploitation, and the way marginalized young people are often ignored when they go missing. Keke is a compelling protagonist: sharp, flawed, stubborn, and driven by loyalty to the women she once danced alongside. Her relationships, especially with HoneyMama, her former mentor, and Detective Elijah Drew, her complicated ex, adds emotional texture and tension.

That said, the book didn’t fully captivate me. While the premise is strong and the stakes are high, the pacing felt uneven. There are moments where the investigation becomes repetitive, and the emotional impact of certain revelations didn’t land as powerfully as they could have.

Overall, this is an engaging and important story with a unique voice and perspective, but it didn’t completely pull me in.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me harder than I expected. It’s more than a crime thriller....it’s a mirror held up to the world we live in right now. Keke’s journey isn’t just about solving disappearances, it’s about exposing the uncomfortable truth: young women of color...especially those pushed to the margins of society...go missing, get silenced, and too often, no one in power seems to care.
What I loved about this story is that it doesn’t sugarcoat the grit or the danger. It highlights how the exploitation of women...whether through sex work, poverty, or corrupt systems....still thrives today. But it also shows the strength of women fighting back, reclaiming their voices, and demanding justice.
Keke is raw, flawed, and real. She’s not some untouchable heroine...she’s a survivor who uses her scars to fuel her fire. Watching her team up with HoneyMama, Dulce, and Drew brought out the power of community and sisterhood, a reminder that when institutions fail, people have to save each other.
This isn’t just a book you read for the thrills (though trust me, there are plenty). It’s one you feel in your bones, because the stories inside it echo the headlines we scroll past every day. It’s bold, unflinching, and exactly the kind of story we need right now.

thank you Kensington Publishing & L. Divine for this incredible ARC

All opinions are my own ❤️

[Kenya Dickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost in the Garden of Eve was that book for me. Powerful, layered, uncomfortable in the best way, and deeply necessary. L. Divine does not just tell a story. She invites you into a reckoning around history, power, race, spirituality, and womanhood, all wrapped in lyrical, intentional storytelling.

This book is unapologetically Black, feminist, and truth telling. It challenges dominant narratives and centers voices that are often erased or softened for comfort. Some white readers may feel triggered, and honestly, that is not a flaw of the book. That is the point. Growth rarely happens without discomfort, and this story asks readers to sit with that rather than run from it.

What I loved most is how thoughtful the writing is. Every chapter feels purposeful. Every metaphor lands. It is the kind of book that stays with you long after you close it. The kind that makes you pause, reflect, and maybe even rethink things you thought you already understood.

If you are open to being challenged, expanded, and moved, read this. If you are not, read it anyway. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost in the Garden of Eve was quite different from my usual mystery selections. The author’s premise, murder of underage dancers employed by the Pimp Palace, was interesting but often lost in the discussion of the social issues of the characters you meet throughout the novel. Keke, a former stripper, is now a reporter for The Metro. Coming off of a recently solved murder, her columns focus on solving the disappearance of young dancers from her former place of employment. Enlisting the help of a former employer Honey Mama Tribedeau, her former lover Detective Drew Lewis, along with Honey Pot stripper Dulce they all come together to help Keke with her investigation. There is considerable discussion amongst the female characters about the social conditions of their lives and others like them, a commentary on women’s place in society. The ending was satisfactory but took a bit of time and thinking to follow it to its conclusion.

[Bryanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5* rounded up


I really wanted to enjoy this. However, it all kind of fell flat for me. This was an incredibly slow burn, and unfortunately, the ending felt super underwhelming, and I was left feeling disappointed. I did appreciate the FMC's determination to bring a light to those victims whom no one cared about nor were paying attention to. She was a champion for those girls 100%

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC opportunity.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

I really like this series so far. But I'm tired of both of the men in Keke's life. They're both useless and terrible in my opinion. She needs to cut them out of her life, and even though she wants to, I have a feeling that she won't. Also, this had a very abrupt ending.

[JXR · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a uniquwe and interesting story with a great sense of purpose and parents. anyway would definitely recommend. 5 sars. tysm for the arc.

[Eileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard book for me to read. Very uninteresting and lacing action. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone to read.