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Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls
Not yet published
Expected 23 Jul 26Murder is an art . . . and she's the next masterpiece.
From the bestselling author of BookTok sensation Win Lose Kill Die comes an addictive killer-thriller with a horror twist, following an aspiring crime journalist’s investigation into a case of copycat murders seemingly connected to a ‘cursed’ painting. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Naturals series and Bill Wood's Let's Split Up.
‘A thriller author to watch!’ Karen M. McManus, international bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying
When aspiring crime journalist Fliss Keller uncovers a disturbing self-portrait of a man at an estate sale, her Art History professor dad buys it, despite how unsettled Fliss feels. The portrait has been lost for decades and completes a set of four existing paintings of women by the same artist already hanging in the town’s gallery.
That evening, the portrait falls to the floor, revealing paperwork inside the frame that suggests the artist was a serial killer and that the women depicted were his victims. Despite her alarm, Fliss vows to investigate and uncover the truth.
But when a series of gruesome murders rock the community, and some think the resurrection of the self-portrait has unleashed a curse, Fliss knows better than to believe them. There are shocking similarities between the poses of the modern-day murders and the painted women, and she’s sure there’s a copycat killer on the loose.
Racing against time, can Fliss unravel the clues before she becomes the murderer's next muse?
PRAISE FOR PAINT ME LIKE YOUR DEAD
‘A delicious mystery full of clever twists and shocking turns.' Jessica Goodman, author of They Wish They Were Us
‘I couldn’t put it down. A really original concept and such a fun read.’ Kelly McCaughrain, author of Just Another Dead Boy
‘Sharp, thrilling and darkly riveting. Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls kept me on the edge of my seat!’ Alexis Henderson, author of When I Was Death
PRAISE FOR CYNTHIA
‘Bold, thrilling, and wickedly addictive. Your next obsession.’ Karen M. McManus, author of One of Us is Lying
‘An intricately crafted YA thriller that I cannot wait to read again.’ Bill Wood, author of Let’s Split Up
‘A taut and twisty read that takes no prisoners. This captivatingly murderous book will keep you up all night and leave you unsure who you can trust.’ Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die First
‘Twists, turns and heartstopping tension, Cynthia Murphy is a thriller author at the top of her game.’ Benjamin Dean, author of How to Die Famous
From the bestselling author of BookTok sensation Win Lose Kill Die comes an addictive killer-thriller with a horror twist, following an aspiring crime journalist’s investigation into a case of copycat murders seemingly connected to a ‘cursed’ painting. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes’ The Naturals series and Bill Wood's Let's Split Up.
‘A thriller author to watch!’ Karen M. McManus, international bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying
When aspiring crime journalist Fliss Keller uncovers a disturbing self-portrait of a man at an estate sale, her Art History professor dad buys it, despite how unsettled Fliss feels. The portrait has been lost for decades and completes a set of four existing paintings of women by the same artist already hanging in the town’s gallery.
That evening, the portrait falls to the floor, revealing paperwork inside the frame that suggests the artist was a serial killer and that the women depicted were his victims. Despite her alarm, Fliss vows to investigate and uncover the truth.
But when a series of gruesome murders rock the community, and some think the resurrection of the self-portrait has unleashed a curse, Fliss knows better than to believe them. There are shocking similarities between the poses of the modern-day murders and the painted women, and she’s sure there’s a copycat killer on the loose.
Racing against time, can Fliss unravel the clues before she becomes the murderer's next muse?
PRAISE FOR PAINT ME LIKE YOUR DEAD
‘A delicious mystery full of clever twists and shocking turns.' Jessica Goodman, author of They Wish They Were Us
‘I couldn’t put it down. A really original concept and such a fun read.’ Kelly McCaughrain, author of Just Another Dead Boy
‘Sharp, thrilling and darkly riveting. Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls kept me on the edge of my seat!’ Alexis Henderson, author of When I Was Death
PRAISE FOR CYNTHIA
‘Bold, thrilling, and wickedly addictive. Your next obsession.’ Karen M. McManus, author of One of Us is Lying
‘An intricately crafted YA thriller that I cannot wait to read again.’ Bill Wood, author of Let’s Split Up
‘A taut and twisty read that takes no prisoners. This captivatingly murderous book will keep you up all night and leave you unsure who you can trust.’ Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die First
‘Twists, turns and heartstopping tension, Cynthia Murphy is a thriller author at the top of her game.’ Benjamin Dean, author of How to Die Famous
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 21, 2026
About the author
Cynthia Murphy
11 books910 followersCynthia Murphy is the bestselling author of a number of YA thrillers, including the BookTok sensation Win Lose Kill Die.
She has a long-standing love affair with all things scary, reading Point Horrors before graduating to Stephen King in her misguided teens. Studying for a degree in Art History and Archaeology meant that she developed a thirst for anything old, beautiful and very often dead. She tries to combine this with contemporary settings in her writing to make unique and chilling modern stories.
Cynthia lives in her hometown of Manchester with her husband and their rescue dog, Loli, who you will see a lot of on TikTok and Instagram @CynthiaMurphyYA
She has a long-standing love affair with all things scary, reading Point Horrors before graduating to Stephen King in her misguided teens. Studying for a degree in Art History and Archaeology meant that she developed a thirst for anything old, beautiful and very often dead. She tries to combine this with contemporary settings in her writing to make unique and chilling modern stories.
Cynthia lives in her hometown of Manchester with her husband and their rescue dog, Loli, who you will see a lot of on TikTok and Instagram @CynthiaMurphyYA
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
started on 4/13 finished on 4/18!
𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨
3.2 stars! this book wasn't bad, but it didn't keep me at the edge if my seat, even at the ending when all the stuff happened. it's definitely more of a mystery than a thriller. the concept is so interesting and I really loved it, and I think it was done well. I love art (can't do it for the life of me but I enjoy looking) and I liked that it played a big role in this book. I didn't really connect to any of the characters and no one really went through any changes. I didn't like the killers reasoning for what they did and that whole scene just felt flat. that's wasn't really any explanation except for like a sentence. and I guessed who it was. I liked the setting of the college. overall, I think this book was ok, there were parts that I really enjoyed, and parts that felt flat.
Now Playing:
heads will roll- yeah yeah yeahs
1:13 ❍─────── 3:55
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
Volume: ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇ 100%
characters:
fliss: she was alright. I think she was a good msun character
izzy: I'm sorry but I found her to be annoying
noah: I liked him
ford: I liked him too
scarlett: she was a weirdo
𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨
3.2 stars! this book wasn't bad, but it didn't keep me at the edge if my seat, even at the ending when all the stuff happened. it's definitely more of a mystery than a thriller. the concept is so interesting and I really loved it, and I think it was done well. I love art (can't do it for the life of me but I enjoy looking) and I liked that it played a big role in this book. I didn't really connect to any of the characters and no one really went through any changes. I didn't like the killers reasoning for what they did and that whole scene just felt flat. that's wasn't really any explanation except for like a sentence. and I guessed who it was. I liked the setting of the college. overall, I think this book was ok, there were parts that I really enjoyed, and parts that felt flat.
Now Playing:
heads will roll- yeah yeah yeahs
1:13 ❍─────── 3:55
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
Volume: ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇ 100%
characters:
fliss: she was alright. I think she was a good msun character
izzy: I'm sorry but I found her to be annoying
noah: I liked him
ford: I liked him too
scarlett: she was a weirdo
Did Not Finish
March 21, 2026”Oh, great, I’ll be living with a demonic painting for the foreseeable future. What could possibly go wrong?"
DNF @ 50%
Serial Killers! Art! This combined two of my favorite things. Then the author goes even further and connects the two. I dropped dead on the floor. I felt as if my year was going to be made. Sadly, this didn’t do anything for me.
This had a really strong start with the finding of the painting and then death. I was hooked but after that it felt as if I was walking in a field of molasses with some boring flat characters. New characters were popping up all the time and they were all the same. You know they all eat dry biscuits with no drink. They don’t season their chicken.
As of right now, this wasn’t for me. I think younger readers will eat this up. It’s just not for this old head.
DNF @ 50%
Serial Killers! Art! This combined two of my favorite things. Then the author goes even further and connects the two. I dropped dead on the floor. I felt as if my year was going to be made. Sadly, this didn’t do anything for me.
This had a really strong start with the finding of the painting and then death. I was hooked but after that it felt as if I was walking in a field of molasses with some boring flat characters. New characters were popping up all the time and they were all the same. You know they all eat dry biscuits with no drink. They don’t season their chicken.
As of right now, this wasn’t for me. I think younger readers will eat this up. It’s just not for this old head.
April 6, 2026
Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls is such a page turner! Murphy combines investigative journalism, art history, tarot, all with a little bit of horror to create this exciting, suspenseful story.
I loved the pacing of this story! I enjoyed how the story slowly unravelled with Fliss’ investigation and how we got to see the steps she took to discover the truth — from the newspaper ads, to deep internet searches, to old library archives…
I liked the mixture of perspectives and how we got to get a glimpse of the women who unfortunately ended up as the subject of the portraits. We got to see their humanity before a killer tried to take it from them.
I didn’t really enjoy any of the romances and I think the book could have done without them. Her friendship with her best friend Izzy was enough, and I wish that had a little more focus than anything else. Their relationship felt very real, with the ups and downs, but with the love always there.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! Such a page turner.
Thank you to Penguin Random House UK Children's | Penguin for the e-arc
I loved the pacing of this story! I enjoyed how the story slowly unravelled with Fliss’ investigation and how we got to see the steps she took to discover the truth — from the newspaper ads, to deep internet searches, to old library archives…
I liked the mixture of perspectives and how we got to get a glimpse of the women who unfortunately ended up as the subject of the portraits. We got to see their humanity before a killer tried to take it from them.
I didn’t really enjoy any of the romances and I think the book could have done without them. Her friendship with her best friend Izzy was enough, and I wish that had a little more focus than anything else. Their relationship felt very real, with the ups and downs, but with the love always there.
Overall, I really enjoyed this! Such a page turner.
Thank you to Penguin Random House UK Children's | Penguin for the e-arc
April 26, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.75 rounded up to 4.0 stars.
I enjoyed this YA thriller that kept you hooked on the clues and moved in a fast paced manner. The story follows Fliss at its core, but we get a couple other pivotal characters, I liked the dynamics and the who done it energy throughout.
I really didn’t guess who the culprit would be, I do think the reasoning everything unfolded made it fall slightly flat for me personally, but I enjoyed the journey. Fliss is quite the detective and I’d love to see the character in another story.
I enjoyed this YA thriller that kept you hooked on the clues and moved in a fast paced manner. The story follows Fliss at its core, but we get a couple other pivotal characters, I liked the dynamics and the who done it energy throughout.
I really didn’t guess who the culprit would be, I do think the reasoning everything unfolded made it fall slightly flat for me personally, but I enjoyed the journey. Fliss is quite the detective and I’d love to see the character in another story.
March 28, 2026
An interesting thriller that’s plenty of fun for fans of true crime but maybe a few too many red strings to keep track of.
After finding a fifth painting that may belong to a set featuring four unknown dead women, Fliss is determined to give them back their names but when a series of unfortunate events leads her to question the if the paintings truly are cursed she finds history repeating itself with new victims and plenty of suspects.
Lots of good here but also so so much that I got a bit lost at the end thinking I may have accidentally skipped ahead and missed pieces of the story.
I really enjoyed the historical true crime component and the little tidbits in full point of view of the original victims and finally their killer. Those quick beats really helped build this feeling of dread when you caught on to the similarities surrounding their unfortunate endings knowing they were just trying to make a name for themselves only to be lost to history at the hands of a deranged killer. I think the lore surrounding the paintings that to some extent both erased and immortalized them was super cool and Hannibal level like creepy with the inclusion of gore I will leave out for spoiler sake.
That being said I think the modern day mystery was very underwhelming. As always I like to try and figure it out before the main character does and in this it sets up a few good red herrings but ultimately I had to go back because I found myself unsure as to which character was which. It’s so underplayed that I think if someone told me it was switched from this arc to final publication nothing would really have to be changed except the printed name in dialogue. There’s an interesting element of tarot and fortunes that could have been really cool to play with but ultimately it feels more like another thing to add aesthetic as it gets jumbled up with paranormal/ritualistic layers for motive that worked find on its own, at least for the historical section but for modern day it doesn’t hold the same weight so it seems sort of like a lot of work for nothing.
I think this has so many good ideas but needed to be two different stories. There’s so many characters , and none that are really great or stand out to ground the story , and so much lore that it feels heavy yet fleeting at the same time. I can’t explain it in a way that doesn’t offer contradictions but ultimately my rating is for The Four without them this wouldn’t even get two.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
After finding a fifth painting that may belong to a set featuring four unknown dead women, Fliss is determined to give them back their names but when a series of unfortunate events leads her to question the if the paintings truly are cursed she finds history repeating itself with new victims and plenty of suspects.
Lots of good here but also so so much that I got a bit lost at the end thinking I may have accidentally skipped ahead and missed pieces of the story.
I really enjoyed the historical true crime component and the little tidbits in full point of view of the original victims and finally their killer. Those quick beats really helped build this feeling of dread when you caught on to the similarities surrounding their unfortunate endings knowing they were just trying to make a name for themselves only to be lost to history at the hands of a deranged killer. I think the lore surrounding the paintings that to some extent both erased and immortalized them was super cool and Hannibal level like creepy with the inclusion of gore I will leave out for spoiler sake.
That being said I think the modern day mystery was very underwhelming. As always I like to try and figure it out before the main character does and in this it sets up a few good red herrings but ultimately I had to go back because I found myself unsure as to which character was which. It’s so underplayed that I think if someone told me it was switched from this arc to final publication nothing would really have to be changed except the printed name in dialogue. There’s an interesting element of tarot and fortunes that could have been really cool to play with but ultimately it feels more like another thing to add aesthetic as it gets jumbled up with paranormal/ritualistic layers for motive that worked find on its own, at least for the historical section but for modern day it doesn’t hold the same weight so it seems sort of like a lot of work for nothing.
I think this has so many good ideas but needed to be two different stories. There’s so many characters , and none that are really great or stand out to ground the story , and so much lore that it feels heavy yet fleeting at the same time. I can’t explain it in a way that doesn’t offer contradictions but ultimately my rating is for The Four without them this wouldn’t even get two.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a quick, fast paced read, but I think that was a hindrance to what had potential to be an incredible mystery book. The story was short, so there wasn't much character development, and the focus seemed to be on the wrong things, often on specific details in a room, or the food the characters were eating, which had no effect on the plot. I did really enjoy the research project the main character did, I love when mysteries have a teenage sleuth solving a cold case and seeing the history of the paintings and the pov of the women within them was interesting, and a nice tie back to the plot, but felt the focus wasn't always in the right place, especially since there was a copycat killer on the loose.
The plot was original, and one of the main reasons I picked up the arc. The book was reminiscent of old supernatural (that one episode where the haunted painting comes to life) and criminal minds episodes, but would have loved if the story leant into the dark academia setting more, as the writing and execution felt a little underwhelming. The target audience felt unestablished, and may have been why some moments felt really mature, but then conversations between characters would read very childish, almost like the author was hesitant to make the story too dark, or push too much into the cursed painting theory, despite the paintings literally being made out of the victims.
There was a lack of suspense throughout the story, and that really damaged the pacing, whilst the chapters were short, there never felt like there was any real danger, and the main character was just reading about these scary things on her computer, not stumbling across them in real life, and again, with the lack of character development, the reveal felt underwhelming and a little... pointless? There didn't seem to be any motivation or reasoning other than wanting their art to make them famous.
Despite this not being my favourite book from the author, I do still think it was a good read, and again, happy to have found a YA mystery with such an original, interesting plot idea.
The plot was original, and one of the main reasons I picked up the arc. The book was reminiscent of old supernatural (that one episode where the haunted painting comes to life) and criminal minds episodes, but would have loved if the story leant into the dark academia setting more, as the writing and execution felt a little underwhelming. The target audience felt unestablished, and may have been why some moments felt really mature, but then conversations between characters would read very childish, almost like the author was hesitant to make the story too dark, or push too much into the cursed painting theory, despite the paintings literally being made out of the victims.
There was a lack of suspense throughout the story, and that really damaged the pacing, whilst the chapters were short, there never felt like there was any real danger, and the main character was just reading about these scary things on her computer, not stumbling across them in real life, and again, with the lack of character development, the reveal felt underwhelming and a little... pointless? There didn't seem to be any motivation or reasoning other than wanting their art to make them famous.
Despite this not being my favourite book from the author, I do still think it was a good read, and again, happy to have found a YA mystery with such an original, interesting plot idea.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows are main character, Fliss, who is a 17 year old doing a summer trade/art program at the university that she plans to attend one day. She is passionate about becoming a crime journalist and work on cold cases. The entire novel takes place on campus of this university.
The book starts out with her dad and step mom getting ready to go on their honeymoon. They swing through an old professors estate sale where Fliss discovers a painting that possibly was done by a serial killer. This sends her on a spiral of trying to uncover the names of his victims. However, this discovery seems to have spurred someone to start reenacting the original murders right on campus and Fliss and her friends are all in the middle of the death and mystery.
I really enjoyed my time with this book. I believe it is technically young adult, but it has the vibe of a freshman in college/university. The pacing felt consistent and medium speed. There was always something to keep me interested and thinking of the mystery even when I wasn't reading the story. It really made me feel like I was reading a YA true crime novel. Like Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone In The Dark for a younger generation and set in the art gallery world.
The "true crime" solving aspect felt realistic and the back and forth with her best friend, who hated anything about crime, felt authentic (and had all the older teenage angst of being on their own for the first time). The fact that there were murders happening and no parents present made sense. The author gave realistic reason for it. I had to suspend my disbelief with the ending a little bit, but it was still a fun ride.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in suspense crime and new adult novels. I would also happily read more by this author.
This book follows are main character, Fliss, who is a 17 year old doing a summer trade/art program at the university that she plans to attend one day. She is passionate about becoming a crime journalist and work on cold cases. The entire novel takes place on campus of this university.
The book starts out with her dad and step mom getting ready to go on their honeymoon. They swing through an old professors estate sale where Fliss discovers a painting that possibly was done by a serial killer. This sends her on a spiral of trying to uncover the names of his victims. However, this discovery seems to have spurred someone to start reenacting the original murders right on campus and Fliss and her friends are all in the middle of the death and mystery.
I really enjoyed my time with this book. I believe it is technically young adult, but it has the vibe of a freshman in college/university. The pacing felt consistent and medium speed. There was always something to keep me interested and thinking of the mystery even when I wasn't reading the story. It really made me feel like I was reading a YA true crime novel. Like Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone In The Dark for a younger generation and set in the art gallery world.
The "true crime" solving aspect felt realistic and the back and forth with her best friend, who hated anything about crime, felt authentic (and had all the older teenage angst of being on their own for the first time). The fact that there were murders happening and no parents present made sense. The author gave realistic reason for it. I had to suspend my disbelief with the ending a little bit, but it was still a fun ride.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in suspense crime and new adult novels. I would also happily read more by this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was absolutely giving A Good Girl's Guide to Murder to me, what with Fliss' interest in true crime and her finding herself wrapped up in a murder mystery of her own volition. I think, though, the pacing was a little bit off. The story didn't really start to pick up till about halfway in, which made the story from ~30%-50% a little slow. The pieces were all there for Fliss to put together, but there was a lot of 'telling' not 'showing' in terms of her going to the creative arts classes and throwing the party -- those were all important in the grand scheme of things but felt a little slow within the context of the mystery.
I do think the mystery itself was super creative though. I loved the way that the art was woven into the story of the murders. The whole notion of painting victims in the vein of tarot cards and then having those paintings (and, by extension, the victims) be recreated with new modern day victims was a truly original story, as far as I'm aware. I also think that interspersing the story with the four chapters dedicated to the four original victims was really smart. Having each of their stories be at a different point in the killer's process, too, was really interesting -- the first victim being chosen, the second being taken to the secondary location, the third being killed, and the fourth after death. I thought that was really intriguing and absolutely kept me interested in the story.
I just wish that there was a little bit more of a story after the murder mystery itself wrapped up. Having even one more chapter with Fliss (and her dad and Izzy and whoever else) would have been a slightly better ending, I think, than just closing the book out with the 'article.' It just felt like a little bit of an abrupt ending, in my opinion.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Delacorte Press for the ARC!
I do think the mystery itself was super creative though. I loved the way that the art was woven into the story of the murders. The whole notion of painting victims in the vein of tarot cards and then having those paintings (and, by extension, the victims) be recreated with new modern day victims was a truly original story, as far as I'm aware. I also think that interspersing the story with the four chapters dedicated to the four original victims was really smart. Having each of their stories be at a different point in the killer's process, too, was really interesting -- the first victim being chosen, the second being taken to the secondary location, the third being killed, and the fourth after death. I thought that was really intriguing and absolutely kept me interested in the story.
I just wish that there was a little bit more of a story after the murder mystery itself wrapped up. Having even one more chapter with Fliss (and her dad and Izzy and whoever else) would have been a slightly better ending, I think, than just closing the book out with the 'article.' It just felt like a little bit of an abrupt ending, in my opinion.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Delacorte Press for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls
By Cynthia Murphy
Pub Date: 23 July 2026
★★★★★
Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls was an absolute five-star read and easily one of the most addictive YA thrillers I’ve picked up this year.
Cynthia Murphy delivers a dark, clever concept that immediately hooked me—serial killer artwork, hidden secrets inside a painting, copycat murders, and the possibility of a curse? I was completely sold from chapter one.
The mystery was incredibly well paced, constantly revealing just enough information to keep me guessing without giving too much away. Every time I thought I had figured things out, another twist completely changed the direction of the story.
Fliss was such a strong protagonist. Her determination to uncover the truth made her easy to root for, and I loved that her passion for crime journalism added another layer to the investigation. She felt intelligent, driven, and realistic throughout the story.
What really stood out was the atmosphere. There was this constant sense of unease woven throughout the book, and the connection between art and murder made everything feel even more sinister. The idea of victims being recreated through paintings was genuinely creepy and incredibly original.
The final twists completely caught me off guard, and I genuinely could not put this book down during the final chapters.
If you love dark YA thrillers, serial killer mysteries, small-town secrets, and books that keep you guessing until the very end, this absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.
A chilling, twist-filled thriller that was dark, original, and impossible to put down. Cynthia Murphy absolutely delivered with this one.
#BookReview #PaintMeLikeYourDeadGirls #CynthiaMurphy #ThrillerBooks #YAThriller #BookTokBooks
By Cynthia Murphy
Pub Date: 23 July 2026
★★★★★
Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls was an absolute five-star read and easily one of the most addictive YA thrillers I’ve picked up this year.
Cynthia Murphy delivers a dark, clever concept that immediately hooked me—serial killer artwork, hidden secrets inside a painting, copycat murders, and the possibility of a curse? I was completely sold from chapter one.
The mystery was incredibly well paced, constantly revealing just enough information to keep me guessing without giving too much away. Every time I thought I had figured things out, another twist completely changed the direction of the story.
Fliss was such a strong protagonist. Her determination to uncover the truth made her easy to root for, and I loved that her passion for crime journalism added another layer to the investigation. She felt intelligent, driven, and realistic throughout the story.
What really stood out was the atmosphere. There was this constant sense of unease woven throughout the book, and the connection between art and murder made everything feel even more sinister. The idea of victims being recreated through paintings was genuinely creepy and incredibly original.
The final twists completely caught me off guard, and I genuinely could not put this book down during the final chapters.
If you love dark YA thrillers, serial killer mysteries, small-town secrets, and books that keep you guessing until the very end, this absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.
A chilling, twist-filled thriller that was dark, original, and impossible to put down. Cynthia Murphy absolutely delivered with this one.
#BookReview #PaintMeLikeYourDeadGirls #CynthiaMurphy #ThrillerBooks #YAThriller #BookTokBooks
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Cynthia Murphy delivers another twisty YA thriller with Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls, a dark and atmospheric story set against the eerie backdrop of a prestigious art school.
When the protagonist arrives at the elite academy, she quickly realizes the school holds more secrets than prestige. Girls have gone missing, rumors swirl through the halls, and unsettling artwork begins to blur the line between inspiration and obsession. As the mystery unfolds, the tension builds steadily, pulling the reader deeper into a web of secrets, manipulation, and dangerous ambition.
Murphy does a great job capturing the competitive, almost claustrophobic environment of an art program, where creativity and pressure collide. The unsettling imagery and themes of art, identity, and control add an extra layer of intrigue that makes the story stand out from many YA thrillers.
The pacing is quick and engaging, with short chapters that keep the pages turning. While some twists felt slightly predictable, the suspense and atmosphere more than make up for it. The cast of characters is compelling, and the shifting trust between them keeps the tension high throughout.
Overall, Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls is an addictive read that will appeal to fans of dark academia, YA mysteries, and psychological thrillers.
If you enjoy stories filled with secrets, art, and dangerous rivalries, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Cynthia Murphy delivers another twisty YA thriller with Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls, a dark and atmospheric story set against the eerie backdrop of a prestigious art school.
When the protagonist arrives at the elite academy, she quickly realizes the school holds more secrets than prestige. Girls have gone missing, rumors swirl through the halls, and unsettling artwork begins to blur the line between inspiration and obsession. As the mystery unfolds, the tension builds steadily, pulling the reader deeper into a web of secrets, manipulation, and dangerous ambition.
Murphy does a great job capturing the competitive, almost claustrophobic environment of an art program, where creativity and pressure collide. The unsettling imagery and themes of art, identity, and control add an extra layer of intrigue that makes the story stand out from many YA thrillers.
The pacing is quick and engaging, with short chapters that keep the pages turning. While some twists felt slightly predictable, the suspense and atmosphere more than make up for it. The cast of characters is compelling, and the shifting trust between them keeps the tension high throughout.
Overall, Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls is an addictive read that will appeal to fans of dark academia, YA mysteries, and psychological thrillers.
If you enjoy stories filled with secrets, art, and dangerous rivalries, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐
PAINT ME LIKE YOUR DE*D GIRLS by Cynthia Murphy (July 21, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley, RHC, GetUnderlined, and Delacorte for the eArc
After the uncovering a painting at an estate sale, a series of m*rders begins. Fliss Keller, an aspiring journalists, begins investigating the crimes in hopes of solving the mystery before another victim is claimed.
PAINT ME LIKE YOUR DE*D GIRLS is a YA m*rder mystery that is artful, intriguing, and features a dual-timeline that offers insight into Fliss' investigation into the painting, the m*rders, and everything inbetween. Admittedly, it did take me a moment to really get into this one (mainly, though necessary for the book, the first chapter was a little slow for me). Everything picked up, as I knew it would since I've read all but one of Murphy's books (nothing will ever top THE MIDNIGHT GAME---if you're reading this please expand on that universe, that game, with another book).
This surprised me. As someone who has studied art history, taken countless years of art classes, I was able to appreciate the art of this---as well as the mystery, of course. Speaking of mystery. This played out so nicely. (Is that the word?) Once Fliss' investigation took off, I could not put this down. She uncovered so much, and I had to know the whodunnit. I had a bit of a theory that sort of clicked halfway through. Suffice to say, I was...absolutely 100% wrong. Like so very wrong.
PMLYDG is shocking and fast-ish paced. I'm already ready for Murphy's next book.
PAINT ME LIKE YOUR DE*D GIRLS by Cynthia Murphy (July 21, 2026)
Thank you Netgalley, RHC, GetUnderlined, and Delacorte for the eArc
After the uncovering a painting at an estate sale, a series of m*rders begins. Fliss Keller, an aspiring journalists, begins investigating the crimes in hopes of solving the mystery before another victim is claimed.
PAINT ME LIKE YOUR DE*D GIRLS is a YA m*rder mystery that is artful, intriguing, and features a dual-timeline that offers insight into Fliss' investigation into the painting, the m*rders, and everything inbetween. Admittedly, it did take me a moment to really get into this one (mainly, though necessary for the book, the first chapter was a little slow for me). Everything picked up, as I knew it would since I've read all but one of Murphy's books (nothing will ever top THE MIDNIGHT GAME---if you're reading this please expand on that universe, that game, with another book).
This surprised me. As someone who has studied art history, taken countless years of art classes, I was able to appreciate the art of this---as well as the mystery, of course. Speaking of mystery. This played out so nicely. (Is that the word?) Once Fliss' investigation took off, I could not put this down. She uncovered so much, and I had to know the whodunnit. I had a bit of a theory that sort of clicked halfway through. Suffice to say, I was...absolutely 100% wrong. Like so very wrong.
PMLYDG is shocking and fast-ish paced. I'm already ready for Murphy's next book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5/5 A creepy art mystery with fascinating flashbacks, but a slower pace than I usually prefer.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
“Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls” ended up being more of a slow-burn than I normally go for, but I still found myself enjoying it overall.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the flashbacks connected to the original paintings. Those moments added a really eerie and intriguing layer to the story, and I always looked forward to those sections when they appeared.
The pacing, however, was slower than I typically prefer. One thing that didn’t fully work for me was how detailed Fliss’s internet searches were. I understand the intention behind it, but reading through every single search term started to feel repetitive and slowed the momentum even more.
I also wish we had gotten a little more after the ending. I’m not a big fan of unfinished endings, and I would have loved to know more about what happened next with the characters. I finished the book with so many questions and really wanted just a bit more closure.
Even with the slower pacing, the mystery and eerie atmosphere kept me interested, and I’m glad I stuck with it.
If you enjoy art-centered mysteries, creepy undertones, and slower-burn suspense, this one might be worth checking out.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
“Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls” ended up being more of a slow-burn than I normally go for, but I still found myself enjoying it overall.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the flashbacks connected to the original paintings. Those moments added a really eerie and intriguing layer to the story, and I always looked forward to those sections when they appeared.
The pacing, however, was slower than I typically prefer. One thing that didn’t fully work for me was how detailed Fliss’s internet searches were. I understand the intention behind it, but reading through every single search term started to feel repetitive and slowed the momentum even more.
I also wish we had gotten a little more after the ending. I’m not a big fan of unfinished endings, and I would have loved to know more about what happened next with the characters. I finished the book with so many questions and really wanted just a bit more closure.
Even with the slower pacing, the mystery and eerie atmosphere kept me interested, and I’m glad I stuck with it.
If you enjoy art-centered mysteries, creepy undertones, and slower-burn suspense, this one might be worth checking out.
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Насправді книга змусила мене замислитись. В США коли людина помирає та у неї нікого немає, то її речі виставляють на аукціон. Я от хз чи у нас так роблять.
Це був ліричний відступ. Про книгу. Що ще може сколихнути маленьке містечко ніж знахідка картини (як виявилось маньяка) та звісно ж фанатік, який вирішив повторити вбивства.
Вцілому усе вийшло в стилі підліткових детективів. Поліція десь там на фоні, гг вставляє відсилки на сучасні фільми, усе як треба.
Розслідування звісно далеке від показного детективного. Скоріше це нагадує "у мене є гугл та мізки" і це прекрасно. Бо все таки фокус у нас на цих студентах, а не офіцерах.
Чи вгадала я хто головний підарас? Ноуп. І за це теж плюс, бо кінцівка змусила мене думати "а нахера це тобі". Люблю, коли детективи змушують мене ворушити мізками.
Але водночас є моменти, коли авторка трохи втрачала мій інтерес. Були моменти, коли книга відверто просідала і я не хотіла далі читати і закривала її (для детективів це дивно). Я зсилаюсь на те, що завжди важко вести розслідування коли з підручних матеріалів гімно та палки.
Але взагалі ідея того, що я маньяк який малював своїх жертв і десь залишив таємний автопортрет — класна. Тому авторці плюс за ідею, плюс за достовірних героїв (в 19 років якраз і віриш що схопиш Джека Різника) і вцілому за книжулю
Насправді книга змусила мене замислитись. В США коли людина помирає та у неї нікого немає, то її речі виставляють на аукціон. Я от хз чи у нас так роблять.
Це був ліричний відступ. Про книгу. Що ще може сколихнути маленьке містечко ніж знахідка картини (як виявилось маньяка) та звісно ж фанатік, який вирішив повторити вбивства.
Вцілому усе вийшло в стилі підліткових детективів. Поліція десь там на фоні, гг вставляє відсилки на сучасні фільми, усе як треба.
Розслідування звісно далеке від показного детективного. Скоріше це нагадує "у мене є гугл та мізки" і це прекрасно. Бо все таки фокус у нас на цих студентах, а не офіцерах.
Чи вгадала я хто головний підарас? Ноуп. І за це теж плюс, бо кінцівка змусила мене думати "а нахера це тобі". Люблю, коли детективи змушують мене ворушити мізками.
Але водночас є моменти, коли авторка трохи втрачала мій інтерес. Були моменти, коли книга відверто просідала і я не хотіла далі читати і закривала її (для детективів це дивно). Я зсилаюсь на те, що завжди важко вести розслідування коли з підручних матеріалів гімно та палки.
Але взагалі ідея того, що я маньяк який малював своїх жертв і десь залишив таємний автопортрет — класна. Тому авторці плюс за ідею, плюс за достовірних героїв (в 19 років якраз і віриш що схопиш Джека Різника) і вцілому за книжулю
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you for the ARC
📚 Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls
🖋️ Cynthia Murphy
✨ Standalone
🏛️ Publisher: Delacorte Press
🖤 One phrase: creepy art girl thriller with killer muse energy.
An aspiring crime journalist, a possibly cursed painting, copycat murders, and a serial killer mystery tied to art history?? Yeah, this sounds exactly like the kind of YA thriller that could eat me alive.
What makes this one stand out is the setup. A lost self portrait falls apart and reveals evidence that the artist may have painted his victims. That is so dark, so dramatic, and so deliciously unhinged. My favorite part already is the whole murder as art angle because that has so much potential to be eerie and addictive.
It feels like the kind of book that could be fast, twisty, and just a little unsettling in the best way.
✨ Tropes & vibes
🎨 cursed painting vibes
🔪 copycat murders
🖤 aspiring crime journalist
🕯️ eerie small town mystery
😱 horror tinged YA thriller
🩸 killer muse energy
📖 Read this if you like
📚 twisty YA thrillers
🎨 creepy art centered horror
🔍 amateur sleuth energy
🖤 dark mysteries with a dramatic hook
This one has future obsession written all over it.
#PaintMeLikeYourDeadGirls #CynthiaMurphy #YAThriller #MysteryThriller #Bookstagram
📚 Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls
🖋️ Cynthia Murphy
✨ Standalone
🏛️ Publisher: Delacorte Press
🖤 One phrase: creepy art girl thriller with killer muse energy.
An aspiring crime journalist, a possibly cursed painting, copycat murders, and a serial killer mystery tied to art history?? Yeah, this sounds exactly like the kind of YA thriller that could eat me alive.
What makes this one stand out is the setup. A lost self portrait falls apart and reveals evidence that the artist may have painted his victims. That is so dark, so dramatic, and so deliciously unhinged. My favorite part already is the whole murder as art angle because that has so much potential to be eerie and addictive.
It feels like the kind of book that could be fast, twisty, and just a little unsettling in the best way.
✨ Tropes & vibes
🎨 cursed painting vibes
🔪 copycat murders
🖤 aspiring crime journalist
🕯️ eerie small town mystery
😱 horror tinged YA thriller
🩸 killer muse energy
📖 Read this if you like
📚 twisty YA thrillers
🎨 creepy art centered horror
🔍 amateur sleuth energy
🖤 dark mysteries with a dramatic hook
This one has future obsession written all over it.
#PaintMeLikeYourDeadGirls #CynthiaMurphy #YAThriller #MysteryThriller #Bookstagram
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc. It's not one I will soon forget.
It started out a tad bit slow, but that could have just been me. I thought the social aspect between Fliss and others came across rather odd and forced. Maybe its part of her character but it was stuffy, not as fluid as it could have been. I found it SO weird that she prepared for a "party" as if it was a rager when they just had 5 friends over, going out of her way to lock up valuables and the bedrooms.. also Noah uses the words "precious child" in one of their private conversations and it came across extremely cringe instead of heartfelt. BUT I LOVED the time jump scenes. I LOVED learning about the original victims and certain connections and the murder mystery aspect was just ✨️ spot on ✨️ By the end it was a really rather good and if youre thinking about a dnf I recommend sticking it out. Fans of Scream or maybe even A Good Girls Guide to Murder will most likely enjoy this read.
Side note:
Ancient 90s show called BAYWATCH 😭😅 I'M ONLY 29 you don't need to ruin it for me with terms like ancient
It started out a tad bit slow, but that could have just been me. I thought the social aspect between Fliss and others came across rather odd and forced. Maybe its part of her character but it was stuffy, not as fluid as it could have been. I found it SO weird that she prepared for a "party" as if it was a rager when they just had 5 friends over, going out of her way to lock up valuables and the bedrooms.. also Noah uses the words "precious child" in one of their private conversations and it came across extremely cringe instead of heartfelt. BUT I LOVED the time jump scenes. I LOVED learning about the original victims and certain connections and the murder mystery aspect was just ✨️ spot on ✨️ By the end it was a really rather good and if youre thinking about a dnf I recommend sticking it out. Fans of Scream or maybe even A Good Girls Guide to Murder will most likely enjoy this read.
Side note:
Ancient 90s show called BAYWATCH 😭😅 I'M ONLY 29 you don't need to ruin it for me with terms like ancient
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgally and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book!
Going into this story, I didn’t realize that it was a YA thriller, so I’m not going to critique that aspect too much. There were some exchanges between characters that seemed on the immature/cringey side, so just be aware of that before starting the book.
The premise/plot of this story was original and intriguing- a serial killer who painted his victims. The paintings then gained notoriety and were given the name “The Four”. When the mysterious fifth painting (the self-portrait) resurfaces, murders mirroring The Four begin to occur. 17 year old Fliss makes it her mission to uncover the original murders and stop the copy-cat killer.
The story itself moved a little slow at times, but had me flying through the last 25%. It was a quick and easy read that kept me engaged throughout the book. I really enjoyed how the author gave snippets of the original victims’ point of view- I felt like that gave the story more depth. As mentioned earlier, be prepared for stereotypical teenage girl behavior/language throughout the book.
If you enjoy art and thrillers, this may be the book for you!
Going into this story, I didn’t realize that it was a YA thriller, so I’m not going to critique that aspect too much. There were some exchanges between characters that seemed on the immature/cringey side, so just be aware of that before starting the book.
The premise/plot of this story was original and intriguing- a serial killer who painted his victims. The paintings then gained notoriety and were given the name “The Four”. When the mysterious fifth painting (the self-portrait) resurfaces, murders mirroring The Four begin to occur. 17 year old Fliss makes it her mission to uncover the original murders and stop the copy-cat killer.
The story itself moved a little slow at times, but had me flying through the last 25%. It was a quick and easy read that kept me engaged throughout the book. I really enjoyed how the author gave snippets of the original victims’ point of view- I felt like that gave the story more depth. As mentioned earlier, be prepared for stereotypical teenage girl behavior/language throughout the book.
If you enjoy art and thrillers, this may be the book for you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 / 5 stars -
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and Cynthia Murphy for the advanced copy!
I've been in a bit of a reading slump (between reading depressing literature and being busy with life), I wanted to have a light read that was entertaining. This book did a great job of getting me out of this slump! Plus, I am partial to a thriller.
We follow Fliss Keller's journey after she uncovers a troubling painting at an estate sale with her father. It turns out this painting is renowned due to its links with "The Four" - a group of four gruesome paintings of unknown origins. After witnessing the first death in her father's art gallery, Fliss works to uncover what is really going on with these paintings. Is it a curse or could it be something else?
I was not expecting the ending and I was pleasantly surprised!
One thing I want to note - I found the modern references to be a bit much, but I suppose it's a personal preference. It really dates the book, hence why I prefer to abstain from too many modern references.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and Cynthia Murphy for the advanced copy!
I've been in a bit of a reading slump (between reading depressing literature and being busy with life), I wanted to have a light read that was entertaining. This book did a great job of getting me out of this slump! Plus, I am partial to a thriller.
We follow Fliss Keller's journey after she uncovers a troubling painting at an estate sale with her father. It turns out this painting is renowned due to its links with "The Four" - a group of four gruesome paintings of unknown origins. After witnessing the first death in her father's art gallery, Fliss works to uncover what is really going on with these paintings. Is it a curse or could it be something else?
I was not expecting the ending and I was pleasantly surprised!
One thing I want to note - I found the modern references to be a bit much, but I suppose it's a personal preference. It really dates the book, hence why I prefer to abstain from too many modern references.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was such a cool concept and I really wish is took off and amazed me but it fell flat. I know that our main character is 17 so I expect her to be a little nieve but when she knew she wasn't the best at something she either felt whiny about, overly cautious, or straight up ignored a things. Like shes in a summer college program that not just anyone can be enrolled in amd she skips a bunch of the class because shes not good at the topic but tells the teacher sje need the time to work on the big project. The miss lead on who the killer is was nice I almost didnt get it right. Oh but I dont understand why some of stuff was even mentioned in the book like why did we need to know Ford has a connection to the museum??? And I didnt really feel like we needed to know about the back and forth between mom and dad or Izzys mom. It seems to be put in so randomly sometimes. Any way I thought it was a good book it just kind of felt like it was written for middle grade but the murders where too gruesome so the had to up the age range.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Paint me like your dead girls
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this arc
Here in this mystery thriller we meet fliss who wants to become a crime journalist, during this time she moves to stay with her dad in which he unknowingly buys a rare painting, during her time alone the painting falls off of the wall and reveals the secrets of the painting and the sudden murders.
I loved the way this was written and how we could see fliss discover the real truth about the serial killer and his victims and how she works through anything to get the real story without trying to end up like the girls in the paintings.
However the plot twist at the end had me hooked and I really wasn’t expecting that at all, it definitely gave the same vibes as a good girls guide to murder and I would definitely recommend.
Overall I would have loved to see a lot more of a friendship with her and Izzy and to see how she got on with her family once her dad came back home and her mum and their family as well didn’t get to see much.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this arc
Here in this mystery thriller we meet fliss who wants to become a crime journalist, during this time she moves to stay with her dad in which he unknowingly buys a rare painting, during her time alone the painting falls off of the wall and reveals the secrets of the painting and the sudden murders.
I loved the way this was written and how we could see fliss discover the real truth about the serial killer and his victims and how she works through anything to get the real story without trying to end up like the girls in the paintings.
However the plot twist at the end had me hooked and I really wasn’t expecting that at all, it definitely gave the same vibes as a good girls guide to murder and I would definitely recommend.
Overall I would have loved to see a lot more of a friendship with her and Izzy and to see how she got on with her family once her dad came back home and her mum and their family as well didn’t get to see much.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
True Crime Obsession
Cursed/Dark Art
Small town secrets
Ya ☠️ mystery/thriller
Forbidden dangerous arts
Suspense
A 20th Century murderer who terrorized women in NYC. Then we Fast forward, and now we have a copy cat killer after the mysterious self portrait of the artist himself resurfaces.
We follow Fliss Keller's journey after she uncovers a troubling painting at an estate sale with her father. Turns out this painting is renowned! due to its links with "The Four" - a group of four gruesome paintings of unknown origins. After witnessing the first ☠️ in her father's art gallery, Fliss works to uncover what is really going on with these paintings. Is it a curse or could it be something else? I enjoyed the suspense,
I was not expecting the ending and I was pleasantly surprised by that ending! Loved the plot. It started a bit slow but picked up as you go along and I wanted to know!!
Loved learning about the original victims, the time jump scenes! I’m glad I sticked out this read!
Cursed/Dark Art
Small town secrets
Ya ☠️ mystery/thriller
Forbidden dangerous arts
Suspense
A 20th Century murderer who terrorized women in NYC. Then we Fast forward, and now we have a copy cat killer after the mysterious self portrait of the artist himself resurfaces.
We follow Fliss Keller's journey after she uncovers a troubling painting at an estate sale with her father. Turns out this painting is renowned! due to its links with "The Four" - a group of four gruesome paintings of unknown origins. After witnessing the first ☠️ in her father's art gallery, Fliss works to uncover what is really going on with these paintings. Is it a curse or could it be something else? I enjoyed the suspense,
I was not expecting the ending and I was pleasantly surprised by that ending! Loved the plot. It started a bit slow but picked up as you go along and I wanted to know!!
Loved learning about the original victims, the time jump scenes! I’m glad I sticked out this read!
March 27, 2026
3.5
So this was a really interesting concept the idea of paintings who are clearly of women that were killed by a serial killer but no one who knows who he is or even who they are. When the fifth painting of the serial killer arrives out of nowhere, the story is set for our young detective to try to solve who is the serial killer and who are the women in the portraits. However, before she can really even begin that new bodies start piling up of other young people who have seemingly be cut down in the same way.
I thought the storyline was interesting. I just thought that it was really slow. It took me several days to read this book when normally it should’ve taken one or two. It felt like there was a lot of back-and-forth on stuff that didn’t really feel necessary to the reader, but overall, I think the concept is really interesting and the discussion of how you separate art from the person who made it is always an interesting one, especially in 2026.
So this was a really interesting concept the idea of paintings who are clearly of women that were killed by a serial killer but no one who knows who he is or even who they are. When the fifth painting of the serial killer arrives out of nowhere, the story is set for our young detective to try to solve who is the serial killer and who are the women in the portraits. However, before she can really even begin that new bodies start piling up of other young people who have seemingly be cut down in the same way.
I thought the storyline was interesting. I just thought that it was really slow. It took me several days to read this book when normally it should’ve taken one or two. It felt like there was a lot of back-and-forth on stuff that didn’t really feel necessary to the reader, but overall, I think the concept is really interesting and the discussion of how you separate art from the person who made it is always an interesting one, especially in 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls was a fast-paced YA thriller with an intriguing premise and a twist I genuinely didn’t see coming.
The murder mystery aspect kept the tension building, and I enjoyed how the story slowly unravelled as Fliss tried to solve the murders before she became the killer’s next target. The connection between the paintings and the crimes made this a definite page-turner.
That said, while there were parts I really enjoyed, some moments felt a little flat and didn’t fully land for me emotionally. I wanted a bit more depth from certain characters and relationships, especially considering how strong the premise was.
Overall, this was an entertaining and atmospheric thriller, and I’d still recommend it to YA mystery/thriller fans.
Thank you to Cynthia Murphy, NetGalley, and Delacorte Press for the ARC.
The murder mystery aspect kept the tension building, and I enjoyed how the story slowly unravelled as Fliss tried to solve the murders before she became the killer’s next target. The connection between the paintings and the crimes made this a definite page-turner.
That said, while there were parts I really enjoyed, some moments felt a little flat and didn’t fully land for me emotionally. I wanted a bit more depth from certain characters and relationships, especially considering how strong the premise was.
Overall, this was an entertaining and atmospheric thriller, and I’d still recommend it to YA mystery/thriller fans.
Thank you to Cynthia Murphy, NetGalley, and Delacorte Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
As I started the book, I got a little nervous when I saw it classified as YA. So many times, YA novels just seem too juvenile: puppy dog romance and shallow main characters. I was pleasantly surprised that this did not read like a typical YA novel. The MCs interest in behavior analysis and criminology made her seem mature beyond her years.
The occasional trips back in time to understand the subjects of the paintings and the artist were an interesting touch and overall the book kept me interested.
I was not overly thrilled with the ending. Somewhat predictable but that doesn't seem to be the main issue. It was more about the motive. Maybe we needed more explanation or clarification?
Overall, a delightful read.
As I started the book, I got a little nervous when I saw it classified as YA. So many times, YA novels just seem too juvenile: puppy dog romance and shallow main characters. I was pleasantly surprised that this did not read like a typical YA novel. The MCs interest in behavior analysis and criminology made her seem mature beyond her years.
The occasional trips back in time to understand the subjects of the paintings and the artist were an interesting touch and overall the book kept me interested.
I was not overly thrilled with the ending. Somewhat predictable but that doesn't seem to be the main issue. It was more about the motive. Maybe we needed more explanation or clarification?
Overall, a delightful read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read this book!
This was an interesting ride for me, for one it was fun and quirky and a totally new idea. Loved the campus setting and the backstory of the paintings. It was shocking at times. However, the characters kinda fell flat for me, which is odd because there really weren’t that many. And then the ending was a little unbelievable, but it wasn’t bad per se. I don’t know, interesting concept but wasn’t my favorite Cynthia book.
The flashback concept was well done!
(I didn’t suspend my belief that the parents didn’t care to show up lol I get it though for YA purposes to leave the kids to their own devices)
This was an interesting ride for me, for one it was fun and quirky and a totally new idea. Loved the campus setting and the backstory of the paintings. It was shocking at times. However, the characters kinda fell flat for me, which is odd because there really weren’t that many. And then the ending was a little unbelievable, but it wasn’t bad per se. I don’t know, interesting concept but wasn’t my favorite Cynthia book.
The flashback concept was well done!
(I didn’t suspend my belief that the parents didn’t care to show up lol I get it though for YA purposes to leave the kids to their own devices)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Maybe I wasn't the correct demographic for this book, but as an adult who does frequently read and like YA books, I had some serious issues with this one. The number of little details that didn't need to be in the book, like the wobbly lines she made with her pen while taking notes, the little tangent she had about hating that she uses tote bags, and the inclusion of the Tarot cards. Too much of the book was focused on the teenagers' daily lives instead of her actually researching the crime, and the paintings. None of it fit together well, and all of the pieces felt like they were forced together. The suspect reveal was also a what? why? That makes no sense.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a really great book for Teens and Young Adults and even though I am way over that group (lol) I have to say that I recommend if you want a refreshing read. This is a very well told suspense thriller with all the twists and turns you would want.
"Fliss" and Izzy are front and center with all the everyday life things going on as well as this murder mystery they get mixed up in! It dives into intrigue, romance (just a little), teen friendships and so much more! Pick up and read it! You won't regret it!
I received an ARC copy of this book. I am voluntarily giving an honest review of this book.
"Fliss" and Izzy are front and center with all the everyday life things going on as well as this murder mystery they get mixed up in! It dives into intrigue, romance (just a little), teen friendships and so much more! Pick up and read it! You won't regret it!
I received an ARC copy of this book. I am voluntarily giving an honest review of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Cynthia Murphy doesn't miss. as usual, this book kept me on edge and I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. the details of the serial killer unfolded nicely and at a good pace. I enjoyed learning about the victims and some of who they were before they became a victim.
I love that Fliss was so determined to unravel the mystery of the serial killer. I also liked how we got to see Fliss' relationship with Izzy, and how their friendship was throughout all of this.
this book is a great YA Thriller that I am able to recommend to friends and family who are always looking for new books to read. Overall, I would recommend this book to others.
I love that Fliss was so determined to unravel the mystery of the serial killer. I also liked how we got to see Fliss' relationship with Izzy, and how their friendship was throughout all of this.
this book is a great YA Thriller that I am able to recommend to friends and family who are always looking for new books to read. Overall, I would recommend this book to others.
April 27, 2026
Thank you random house children’s books and netgalley for sending me an advanced copy of this book. I have not read a book this quickly in a long time! I was hooked! as an art teacher, i loved the art and history in this book which is not a commom theme i have read in books before. I loved the darkness of the paintings tied to murders. The chapters were longer than i like, but they went by quickly and the did not feel like it took thag long to read them. I would definitely recommend this book, and now I need to fall down the rabbit hole and read her other books, because i bet i would love those as well! Young adult books really are great reads!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with this arc
I was so excited to receive this arc! I’ve read all but 1 of Cynthia’s books (the outstanding is owned and on my tbr!) so I’m a huge fan of her books
The premise of this book is so interesting and nothing like I’ve read before. The FMC, Fliss, reminds me a little of Pip from a good girls guide to murder as she was really interested in the murders and is piecing together evidence
I loved trying to guess who was behind it all. I didn’t really enjoy the reveal but the story was so twisty and a page turner
I would still recommend this book to others and all of Cynthia’s other books too!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with this arc
I was so excited to receive this arc! I’ve read all but 1 of Cynthia’s books (the outstanding is owned and on my tbr!) so I’m a huge fan of her books
The premise of this book is so interesting and nothing like I’ve read before. The FMC, Fliss, reminds me a little of Pip from a good girls guide to murder as she was really interested in the murders and is piecing together evidence
I loved trying to guess who was behind it all. I didn’t really enjoy the reveal but the story was so twisty and a page turner
I would still recommend this book to others and all of Cynthia’s other books too!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
#NetGalley arc read
If you like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder or any type of YA thrillers in that category, you will love this one.
This book was way different from what I assumed it was going to be. I was thinking more ghost and haunting, but it turned out to be a good little thriller. The first half didn't suck me in as much, but kept me wanting more, enough to keep going, but by the middle, it had me hooked! It picked up, and I didn't want to put it down. The way it ended actually stuck out to me and shocked me, which was very fun. I had to stop myself from reading on because it just had a hold on me. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
If you like A Good Girl's Guide to Murder or any type of YA thrillers in that category, you will love this one.
This book was way different from what I assumed it was going to be. I was thinking more ghost and haunting, but it turned out to be a good little thriller. The first half didn't suck me in as much, but kept me wanting more, enough to keep going, but by the middle, it had me hooked! It picked up, and I didn't want to put it down. The way it ended actually stuck out to me and shocked me, which was very fun. I had to stop myself from reading on because it just had a hold on me. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
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