Drop Dead Famous

by Jennifer Pearson

When global singing sensation Blair Baker rises on a platform high above the stage for the opening number of her triumphant hometown concert, the crowd erupts in applause. But their joy quickly turns to horror when they realize Blair is dead. The shocking revelation that music's brightest star has been murdered rocks the world. But for her younger sister, Stevie, the tragedy is more than a headline - it's personal.
Determined to uncover the truth, Stevie dives headfirst into the shadows of her sister's glittering life.

What begins as a search for answers turns into a dangerous journey through the toxic underbelly of fame, where betrayal, manipulation, and obsession thrive. Yet, as Stevie peels back the layers of who her sister really was, she begins to uncover dark secrets closer to home - secrets that someone is desperate to keep buried...

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

464 pages, Hardcover

Published May 5, 2026

Reviews

[Maria Espadinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fame is a Serial Killer


How many famous people do we know whose lives have been taken by bullets?!
By exposing people to crowds, fame attracts an anonymous amalgam of strangers. Some will be fans but… others will be stalkers. In practical terms, it means the best and worst can happen. For Blair Baker, a small town girl turned into an instant celebrity, it was the worst…

Drop Dead Famous is a fast paced thriller that tackles the dark side of fame. I truly enjoyed it 👏

[Jindi (readingwithcaffeine) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say this was a fun little read but it actually dives into such serious topics too so I feel like that’s not entirely the right word to use here 🫣 It literally opens with a global superstar being found dead just before her much anticipated hometown show so the pace is already set from the very first chapter.

I really liked the characters in this but the true star of the show is Colby. A true frenemy turned bestie, I adored every scene she was in and her dialogue had me laughing out loud! I would LOVE to see her possibly take on the main role in a sequel maybe????

This book will require you to suspend your disbelief throughout, I mean how many teenagers are actually out there solving crimes faster than detectives 🥲 but I found that didn’t really bother me at all. You get all the answers you’re looking for by the last page and you will be satisfied! A great pick if you’re a fan of AGGGTM!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson wastes absolutely no time pulling you in opening with the shocking onstage death of a global pop star and immediately setting the tone for a fast paced, high stakes mystery. From the very first chapter, the story moves with urgency, and it never really lets up. If you’re someone who gets frustrated with predictable YA thrillers, this one is a refreshing change. The twists land, the red herrings actually misdirect, and the reveals feel earned rather than obvious.

Stevie is such a strong lead, she’s tenacious, sharp, and completely unwilling to let things go (in the best way). She has that “dog with a bone” energy that makes her investigation compelling to follow, and her dynamic with Colby adds a layer of humor and warmth that balances the darker themes. Their friendship feels natural and gives the story some breathing room between the tension. And tension there is—this book leans into the messy, toxic side of fame, exploring how image, pressure, and secrets can spiral into something much darker.

There’s a clear A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder style vibe here, from the large cast of suspicious characters to the constant sense that literally no one can be trusted. At some point, you’ll side eye everyone, and that’s half the fun. With so many moving pieces, it becomes nearly impossible to confidently guess the outcome, which makes the final reveals all the more satisfying. Dramatic, twisty, and genuinely entertaining, this is a YA thriller that actually delivers on the mystery.

[Maaike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable YA thriller! If you love family drama, this is definitely the book for you because oh boy the reveals keep on revealing, I really enjoyed the popstar theme of it. It allowed for a lot of added drama and tension to the whole book. For once in my life I did see a part of the twist coming, but I was still really surprised by the ending which I always love.

I do think the relationship between Stevie and Blair could've been explored more to make it all hurt even more. But all in all, a really fun YA thriller that I would definitely recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc in exchange of an honest review!

[Priscilla Stalker · Rating 5 out of 5]

When global pop star Blair Baker is found dead mid-concert—literally rising above the stage—the world is shaken. But for her sister Stevie, this isn’t just another headline… it’s personal.

I was hooked from the first couple chapters. This story wastes no time pulling you into the mystery, and it does not let go.

What I loved most was the unexpected duo of Stevie and Colby. Their dynamic added so much depth, and I didn’t see that partnership coming—but it worked so well.

Every character felt like they were hiding something. Even Stevie’s own family had secrets, which kept me constantly second-guessing everyone. The twists just kept coming, and every time I thought I had it figured out… I didn’t.

I also loved how everything connected in the end. The chain of events linking the three murders was so well done and made the final reveal feel even more satisfying.

This book dives into the darker side of fame—obsession, betrayal, and the pressure behind the spotlight—while delivering a super addictive mystery.

If you love twisty thrillers with shocking reveals and secret-filled characters… you NEED to pick this one up.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would’ve read this all in one sitting if it weren’t for the pee breaks 🤣

Drop Dead Famous is filled with mystery. The disappearance of a young girl Mia, the murder of a teenage boy by shooting, and now the murder of a pop star…

This isn’t the safest town to be in!!

I really liked how all three of these mysteries tied together and I liked how it all came together in the end. It really shows how one decision can spiral, and how the negative impact just keeps going and going, leaving hurt and pain. Just a trail of disaster.

I wish we perhaps got some flashbacks of Stevie and Blair and their relationship, aside from just Stevie recounting her relationship with her sister. The emotional connection just really fell flat. I suppose, on one hand, we as the reader and the audience are also experiencing Blair as a celebrity.

I loved Steve’s budding friendship with Colby! I thought a lot of their interactions were really sweet and I think it was good for Stevie to have someone to bounce ideas off of.

This was quite a fast paced book and I liked how the mystery and reveals all came together. I had my guesses — which were varying degrees of correct — and I liked how there were some curveballs!

All in all, an entertaining read! I will read more from this author.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK Children's | Simon & Schuster Children's UK for the e-arc

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thankful to have received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

Overall, I enjoyed this YA thriller that is very clearly geared toward its target audience. Some YA books manage to cross over and appeal broadly even to readers who do not typically pick up the genre, but this is not one of them.

While fairly predictable, and often feeling familiar as the story unfolds, it is still an entertaining ride watching two unlikely teens team up to investigate the murder. Stevie, the victim’s sister, would absolutely lose in the Teen Investigator Olympics. Nancy Drew she is not, but she is persistent and determined enough to keep things moving.

The story touches on several deeper issues along the way, but unfortunately none are explored deeply enough to elevate this into a true “must-read” for teens where entertainment and meaningful discussion fully intersect. There is still value here, just not quite to the level it could have reached. Readers immersed in “Taylor Swift”-style fandom culture, however, may especially connect with the atmosphere and dynamics woven throughout the story.

At the end of the day, this is a fun, quick popcorn thriller with a touch of romance mixed in. That romance did raise my eyebrows a bit considering it involves a young police officer and a high school student. While both characters are of age and nothing inappropriate occurs, it still made me raise an eyebrow.

[Sandrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐️
I really enjoyed this thriller ! Stevie’s somewhat estranged older sister, who is a famous pop star, is killed at her homecoming concert. Stevie who is still traumatized by a murder and a disappearance in her small town, is determined to investigate and find who killed her sister and why. I was very pleased with this story as it was very unexpected. I suspected every character at least once. It didn’t go where I thought it would but once it was uncovered, it made a lot of sense. It was very “good girl’s guide to murder”esque which I really enjoyed! I really liked the friendship between Stevie and Colby. Overall, it’s a very unexpected YA thriller, I definitely recommend it !

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.

[India Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was okay, I liked the premise (although blair was obviously taylor swift, with an NFL bf to match. a bit of sabrina carpenter sprinkled in for good measure too). I think it was definitely inspired by AGGGTM with the investigation, the threatening notes etc but I just didn’t gel with it as well as I did with the AGGGTM trilogy. also pretty early on there’s a casual reference to using chatgpt and I very nearly DNFd there and then lol

[jenny ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

DELIGHTED to learn we will be getting more stevie and colby adventures. hopefully in london. i didn’t think this would be a series so i’m chuffed and will definitely be reading more :)

[Jo Buck-Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable YA thriller

[Miss Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing!

I loved this book it was gripping from the start and the twists and turns were amazing to read. The pressure that Stevie felt was heartbreaking and the trauma of everything was unbelievable!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ got me out of a slump at least, rlly enjoyed it but docking points for one of the characters using chat gpt *throws tomatoes*

[HF]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 23%. If this were any other genre I'd try to read more, but mystery/thriller are my comfort genres and I can breeze through any of them whether they're good or bad, as long as they're not boring. So if I lost interest this quickly, it's best to quit while I'm ahead. I just couldn't connect to the main character. She feels very passive, which isn't terrible in itself, but seeing that she's surrounded by a bunch of adults aside from a teenage girl she shares one scene with, there's a disconnect in the narrative that doesn't work for me. The set up is interesting though. For the right reader who revels in the juicy behind the scenes details about celebrity culture and the secret lives of pop stars, this can make for a fun time.

[Fizah(Books tales by me) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual Rating 4.5

Thanks to the Simon Teen for this Early Review Copy

The opening sequence reminded me of the current music scene. A massive pop star rising above the stage, fans losing their minds, the internet melting down, it was dramatic in the best way, murder aside. I was immediately hooked. From there, the story keeps building. It slows a little in the middle, but every chapter still drops something new: a clue, a twist, a threat, or some other reason to doubt a new character.

I really liked Stevie as a main character. She’s grieving, but also determined and kind of relentless when it comes to finding out what really happened to her sister. You can feel how personal this is for her, and that made it easy to stay invested in her journey. I didn’t like Colby at first, but over time, she grew on me. Her interactions with Stevie added a bit of lightness to the otherwise tragic story. The involvement of the family was a welcoming element. The whole pop star/fame angle and how it can be toxic and dark also added context regarding many things.

The mystery itself is well done. I kept changing my mind about who to trust, though I had a pretty solid read early on of who not to trust, and I was right. For a 400+ page book, it stayed genuinely easy and fun to read the whole way through. My only real complaint, it could lose maybe 50 pages, and the ending needed more room to breathe. I find the ending lacking, I wanted to read about the closure of all of the characters, so I was a bit disappointed.

The romance was up to my ally, a genuine and supportive connection without getting overwhelming. The whole setup/story reminded me of Holly Jackson’s book, which I really adore. I’d definitely recommend it if you’re into YA mysteries with lots of secrets and a bit of celebrity drama.

This was such a fun, addictive read. I finished it in 3–4 days, which pretty much says it all.

[L 🎀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I want to say a massive thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The story starts with the death of pop star Blair, who happens to be the sister of our main character Stevie. Throughout the book Stevie, along with Blair’s superfan Colby, team up to attempt to solve her murder. This book is full of twists and turns, dark family secrets and a very addictive plot!

Wow, what an amazing book! The mystery genuinely kept me hooked. New pieces of evidence and facts kept arising which made me question every single character at some point. This point was what made the book particularly shine, as there was no part of the story where I was confident about the identity of the murderer.
As the mystery progressed further, and more clues arose, I found the book genuinely hard to put down as there was such a large amount of tension building up throughout.
I also really enjoyed reading the book from our main character, Stevie’s, point of view. I thought she made the perfect narrator to the mystery, as she herself was suspicious of everyone at one point, which perfectly reflects the viewpoint of the reader!
Finally, the ending was definitely worth the wait. I won’t say more on that matter because ✨spoilers✨ but it was the perfect release of all the built up tension throughout the book.

Overall, I’d recommend this book to twisty YA mysteries. In particular fans of a good girls guide to murder should definitely read this- it gave me such similar vibes and I loved it!

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank Simon and Schuster for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Getting into the review - as the description of this book says, it reminds me of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder mixed with the music industry craziness.

Starting off with a big pop star returning to her small hometown for a home coming performance, only to be discovered murdered in front of thousands of screaming fans and her family. It’s a high-stakes whodunit.

Stevie is the younger sister of global sensation Blair Baker. Stevie is already a girl defined by grief as shes still haunted by the unsolved disappearance of her niece, Mia. When Blair is killed, Stevie refuses to let her sister become just another cold case or a tabloid headline. As Stevie navigates her way through her sister’s world investigating, the truth about Blair’s life quickly peels away to reveal a messy reality including family secrets that were never meant to leave their small town.

The characters in this book are well written especially Stevie’s character as she is lovable, I felt her pain when she was suspicious of everyone.. definitely how I felt! I also loved the character Colby, annoying at first though. I love the subtle romance happening in small parts throughout this book, this is always a good touch to a YA thriller.

I found this book to be a true page-turner and finished it in less than 24 hours! Definitely a great YA thriller read. Pearson knows how to end a chapter on a cliffhanger which made it very hard to put down. I’m also a plot guesser and I love to see if I can guess whodunit.. I couldn’t this time. This is a four star read for me as it didn’t make me feel any extreme emotions.. but still a great read!!

I would recommend reading this if you like YA mysteries, celebrity drama, and twisty plots that keep you guessing.

[Becca ♡ PrettyLittleMemoirs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a thriller with lots of twists, and that is exactly what Drop Dead Famous promises from the get-go. Stevie has lived in the shadow of her Pop Star older sister for years. They've grown apart and lost touch when they used to be so close, and although she's so proud of her sister's success, she misses what they had. Blair Baker is the ultimate starlet, glamourous and talented, and the world is always watching her. Despite blips of substances, burnout and over-divulgence of family issues in songs and interviews, she's the talk of their small hometown, Honeyville, and the world. So when she announces a hometown show that becomes the sole focus of Honeyville's residents' attention, Stevie is in two minds as she watches Blair on stage—only when her sister misses her cue, chaos erupts at the arena when it's clear Blair Baker has been shot—murdered—and the killer is nowhere to be found.

The Baker family are devastated, and the world grieves with them. So many people adored Blair—but as the family are learning, many people also disliked Blair. Obviously someone must've had a motive to kill her, right? From stalkers to too-invasive fans and her dodgy manager, Stevie is sure that she can try and solve the mystery, reluctant to believe that Honeyville's Police are truly diving into the other, dark side of fame Blair became steeped in. She's reminded of her cousin's death not too long ago, a time that rocked her and Blair's world, another mystery she tried—and failed—to solve. But this is different. Stevie is older, stronger, and has a new drive—and help from a new friend and an unintended crush—to actually crack this one. Only, as secrets are brought to light and cast a shine a little too close to home, Stevie finds herself pointing fingers at people she never thought were capable of such evils—Blair might've been the Pop Princess to the world, but her death unearths a graveyard of secrets she couldn't bury deep enough, and it's capable of throwing Stevie's life into chaos.

Drop Dead Famous hit every note perfectly for me. Blair's life, to the fans, was full of glitter and gold, but in death, was uncovered as a sharply choreographed lie that just couldn't go the distance. Jennifer writes this mystery with the compulsiveness that begged me as the reader to keep turning pages, wanting to solve the crime alongside Stevie. The plot blindsided me at every turn, and the final reveal was a total gut-punch that left my best theory in the dust. While Blair’s death is the catalyst, the true story lies in the blood-stained legacy of the Baker family—a labyrinth of past and present secrets where every chilling revelation slots into place to reveal just how meticulously calculated the tragedy is as a whole. I loved the found friendship between Stevie and Colby, and also had a soft spot for Stevie and Oliver's relationship. I found myself at times just wanting to reach into the pages and comfort Stevie. Even as her resilience is undeniable, Jennifer also doesn't shy away from the crushing reality of her trauma that unravels publicly. It is this masterfully balanced vulnerability that gives the novel its true power and keeps the reader anchored in every twist. I was thoroughly hooked throughout this unmissable, high-octane, electric story.

[Emilie (emiliesbookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stevie is beyond excited to attend her sister Blair’s concert in theIt home town. Blair is now an international singing sensation and it has been a long time coming to have her home

But for Stevie and her parents, their excitement is turned to horror when Blair is discovered dead during the opening song at the concert.

Now making headlines, everyone is speculating as the hunt begins for Blair’s killer. Stevie believes the police aren’t doing enough, and takes matters into her own hand, trying to find the person who would wish her sister harm

This YA thriller muster packs a serious punch. The music industry, media back drop adds a fantastic layer of mystery and deception.

Stevie is such a great protagonist, trying to find justice for her sister while also protecting her family she is a tough and resourceful. You are quickly backing her and very protective of her

Plenty of suspicious characters adds to the suspense, not sure who to really trust will keep you turning the page until the fab conclusion

I loved The Bodyguard reference too!

thank you so much Simon & Schuster for my gifted ARC

[Kiirstyannee.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

DROP DEAD FAMOUS - JENNIFER PEARSON

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5


First of all let's just take a minute for this beautiful ARC cover. I am absolutely obsessed 🤩 thank you so much @simonschusterau for hooking me up with this read!

I am super late to post this review - I actually finished this a few weeks ago and have been in an assignment black hole!

This book was SO good and I was hooked from the start! It gives amateur crime solvers vibes in the best way. Starting with a bang, there are a few different mysteries weaved through and our protagonist works her way through the ever growing list of suspects. I really didn't know which way it would go and the ending was definitely shocking and satisfying.

I LOVE a YA thriller and Jennifer Pearson has executed this really well. A great balance of suspense, mystery and emotion.

You NEED to add this book to your TBR if you want an easy to read and satisfying crime book🙌🔥 AVAILABLE IN AUS IN JUNE 🤩

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blair Baker’s homecoming concert was always billed as a must-go-to gig, but nobody could predict it ending in the way it does. Only minutes into the gig things are stopped as Blair has been shot. Her family are shocked. Her fans are distraught. And it’s very obvious that someone knows more than they’re letting on.
The book follows Blair’s sister Stevie as she investigates the murder of her sister.
In the process we learn more about the family, the secrets that have been kept and which have a bearing on this incident and the developing friendship Stevie has with Blair’s super-fan.
I can’t not comment on the absurdity of some of the plot, but it was so entertaining it was easy to overlook.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me early access to the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery book especially when someone teams up with someone else to investigate a murder.
I was hooked the entire time trying to unravel who murdered Blair. This book had everyone a suspect on my list. When I finally found out who did it, I was mind blown. This book was hard to put down.

Thank you to netgalley and @simonteen for the ARC.

[Sarah Redmond · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda went back and forth on this one. A little all over the place and a really surface level writing style. Too many gotchas.

[yazzyvb · Rating 4 out of 5]

was honoured to get an arc of this on kindle! i was GLUED to the book when i had the time to read it and when i didn’t i was constantly thinking about how i wanted to be reading it! honesty really loved the humour in it, and deffo enjoyed all the twists and turns and then things being linked together. it was a very fun read and kept me wanting to read so would recommend it to people!

[B]

Eight pages in and there were already WAY too many people. Certainly too many to keep straight without calling her parents by their first fucking names. The FMC also definitely was not eighteen, I would’ve said fifteen max.

[LudmilaM · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Guessed the culprit miles away (always the one you suspect the least, folks) but still an enjoyable mystery, well thought out, complex characters, dealing with grief, few red herrings, the whole package. Stretched out a bit, could have been done with 100 pages less. Still a good read.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Sarah Barley Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you’re in the mood for a twisty YA murder mystery with lots of secrets, family drama, and a little bit of celebrity chaos, “Drop Dead Famous” by Jennifer Pearson is a pretty entertaining ride.

The story kicks off with a shocking moment: pop star Blair Baker is about to perform a huge homecoming concert in her small hometown, and when the stage rises, she’s already dead. Right there in front of thousands of fans, including her own family. It’s a wild opening and immediately throws you into the mystery.

Blair’s sister, Stevie, is determined to figure out what really happened. The police haven’t had the best track record in their town (there are already two other unsolved tragedies connected to the area), so Stevie decides to start investigating on her own. The problem? She barely knew anything about Blair’s life anymore. Ever since Blair became famous, she drifted away from her family, and it turns out she had a lot more secrets than anyone realized.

As Stevie digs deeper, the story starts revealing just how messy things really are with the pressures of fame, shady people in the entertainment industry, and some seriously complicated family history. There are multiple mysteries tangled together, and it slowly becomes clear that everything might be connected.

One of the best parts of the book is Stevie’s unlikely investigation partner, Colby. Colby is a huge Blair superfan who ends up helping Stevie look for answers, and honestly she steals a lot of the scenes she’s in. Watching Stevie and Colby go from awkward teammates to genuine friends was really fun, and their dynamic adds a lot of heart to the story. Everyone needs a Colby in their life.

The mystery itself keeps things interesting with lots of twists, new clues, and moments that make you question basically every character. Stevie becomes completely obsessed with solving the case, partly because she wants justice for Blair, but also because she’s struggling with grief and guilt about how distant they had become. That emotional side of the story actually adds a lot of depth.

That said, the book can feel a little overwhelming at first. There are a lot of characters, multiple past tragedies, and several different plot threads happening at once, so the beginning especially can feel like a lot to keep track of. The pacing also slows down a bit in the middle before picking up again toward the end.

But once the investigation really gets going, it’s hard to stop reading. The twists keep coming, the tension ramps up, and the final reveals tie everything together in a pretty satisfying way. There is also a hint of a romance, though there is also a slight age gap with it.

Overall, “Drop Dead Famous” is a fun and twisty YA mystery with small-town secrets, messy family drama, and a main character willing to risk a lot to uncover the truth. If you like fast-paced whodunits and stories that keep you guessing, this one is definitely worth picking up. And honestly, everyone deserves a friend like Colby while solving a murder.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Cover:
Wirkt glamourös und gleichzeitig bedrohlich, genau die Mischung die zum "Fame can be a killer"-Vibe passt. Optisch macht das Buch sofort neugierig. Besonders mag ich den Zeichenstil.

Meine Meinung:
Ein Popstar, der live auf der Bühne stirbt, während die eigene Familie zuschaut... krasser kann ein Einstieg kaum sein. Drop Dead Famous ist Jennifer Pearsons YA-Thriller-Debüt, und der Vergleich zu Holly Jackson und Karen M. McManus, der überall mitschwingt, ist absolut berechtigt.

Stevie sitzt im Publikum beim großen Heimatkonzert ihrer Schwester Blair, einem globalen Popstar im Taylor-Swift-Format, als diese mitten in der ersten Performance tot zusammenbricht. Während die Polizei nicht wirklich vorankommt, beginnt Stevie selbst zu ermitteln, unterstützt von Colby, einer Fanseiten-Administratorin mit eigenen Verbindungen zu Blairs Welt. Was als Versuch beginnt, Antworten zu finden, wird schnell zu einer gefährlichen Reise durch Familiengeheimnisse, Stalker und Lügen, die alle hinter dem glitzernden Promi-Leben verborgen waren.

Stevie ist eine Protagonistin mit echtem Biss, zielstrebig, klug und mit einer "Dog with a bone"-Energie, die einen sofort mitreißt. Sie lässt sich von niemandem abwimmeln, auch wenn die Erwachsenen um sie herum sie immer wieder zum Schweigen bringen wollen. Schade fand ich allerdings, dass sie sich über die Geschichte hinweg kaum entwickelt und eher Beobachterin als aktiv wachsende Figur bleibt, das schmälert aber nicht, wie kompromisslos sie ihrer Mission folgt.

Colby ist mit ihrem Hintergrund als Fan-Page-Administratorin die perfekte ungewöhnliche Ermittlungspartnerin. Sie kennt Blairs Online-Welt, die Fan-Theorien und das ganze Drumherum besser als jeder Erwachsene in dieser Geschichte. Mit ihrem Witz und ihrer warmherzigen Art lockert sie die düsteren Themen genau richtig auf. Ihre Freundschaft fühlt sich natürlich an und gibt der Geschichte Verschnaufpausen zwischen all der Spannung.

Was das Buch wirklich besonders macht, ist das raffinierte Plotting. Die Anzahl an roten Fäden ist beeindruckend und die Auflösung fühlt sich verdient an statt aufgesetzt, etwas, das bei YA-Thrillern nicht selbstverständlich ist. Der Schreibstil ist schnell, eingängig und cineastisch, man sieht die Szenen förmlich vor sich. Der Promi-Faktor mit den Stalker-Elementen und Familiendrama gibt dem Buch zusätzliche Tiefe.

Das Buch ist der Auftakt zu einer neuen Reihe mit Stevie und Colby als Ermittlerinnen.

Mein Fazit:
Ein packendes, cleveres YA-Thriller-Debüt mit einem starken Detektiv-Duo, das Lust auf mehr macht. Wer Holly Jacksons oder Karen M. McManus' Bücher mag, wird hier sofort fündig. Ich bin gespannt auf die nächste Stevie-und-Colby-Geschichte!

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Simon&Schuster for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a YA murder mystery following in the footsteps of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder. While I usually hate the entire concept of comp titles, in this case it was inevitable. Similarities include: teenage protagonist who insists on investigating old unresolved cases and works them out when nobody else could be bothered; huge cast of characters where everyone is potentially a suspect and all the solutions unravel in the last 10% of the book; romance between the main character and someone else who is investigating alongside her.

However the writing style was nowhere as refined as in AGGGM, and the setting is nowhere as quaint as charming as a small town in England (with no guns, which automatically makes for a more complex plot as you can't just say well X shot Y and be completely desensitised to it). To be fair, in the initial scenes, when the family arrive at Blair's concert and it was just endless exposition, I really thought I was reading Taylor Swift fanfiction it was just too on the nose - including '13' reference at a really inappropriate time.

Other elements that don't quite work for this book were:
- You never really quite warm up to the main character. Her sister just got murdered yet she seems pretty detached from it all.
- Some of the characters, particularly the mum (in fact, both mums) are deeply caricaturish. It feels like their scenes read as a sitcom script more so than a novel.
- The dialogue is way over the top at points. This does calm down quite significantly as the book goes on but also feels like a weird shift in tone that makes the first and second half inconsistent with each other. As the dialogue improves, however, the narration in between becomes much blander, very much switching to a tone of telling not showing.
- The whole plot would have been improved by about 50% if the romance had been between Stevie and Colby.
- Deals with some disturbing themes such as grooming and CSA but this is handled so very superficially that it almost feels dismissive. I don't think the word rape is in there once.
- Some loose ends left by the conclusion - nothing important really, but not as neatly wrapped up as you would expect.

I do think it's still enjoyable as a story, as obviously you want to unravel the mystery together with the MC, but I'm not too sure what audience demographic would enjoy this the most. I feel like teenagers would find it way too childish in spite of the age of the characters being right at the upper end of YA (18-21) however the themes are a bit too heavy for pre-teens.

[Betaknot]

Pearson has created an interesting story to tell. I recently dabbled into young adult thrillers via a book I fell in love with one day called Sadie by Courtney Summers. Difficult emotional and psychological dynamics between two sisters is something I love to read, because it's a theme that I relate to and hold dear to my heart. I love when authors are able to present these themes with heart, grace, and intrigue. I especially adore authors who put spins on these ideas.

However, it didn't take long to realize that Drop Dead Famous is a niche novel that very few might possibly enjoy. While I was booked by the opening of this novel, and the family dynamics between the Baker family are quirky, that wasn't enough to convince me the entire story would be worth my reading experience.

The set up and dare I'd say the exposition of the first chapter is a lot to chew on and gives us a heavy dose of red herrings and clues that we as the reader aren't ready for. Though the story starts out with a banger ( sarcasm, obviously. It begins with death ), I noticed early on through chapter three that the dialogue and prose were becoming quite comical and unbelievable. I felt like I was reading the script for a telenovela.

The characters were not only cheesy in their reactions to the opening events that set up Blair's journey as the younger sister and sleuth, but the entire family itself became cartoonist archetypes.

I think young adult readers deserve less tell and more show. If you've ever been driving a long length of time, perfectly fine coasting, until the next minute you're suddenly nauseous and confused from realizing you're driving and suddenly you have vertigo? That's what this novel feels like. A slow ease into the journey, and then suddenly whiplash! I'm not sure what exactly the author was doing when writing the novel, or how it was edited together, but it's a bit of a tough read. There's a lot of inconsistencies in the writing. False flags. Moments where weird word choices took me out of the story.

I unfortunately didn't enjoy my reading experience and I wouldn't recommend to anyone my age, or for young adults on a mass scale. Though the idea was fantastic, and while the beginning managed to hook me, I don't feel as if the novel itself is ready for publication. Although I will say I am definitely not the right audience for this, it might make someone else satisfied.