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The Dead Girls Book Club
Freida McFadden meets Shari LaPena in a riveting, chilling novel of domestic suspense about a woman in a troubled marriage who joins an exclusive book club to reinvigorate her sense, but finds there's something sinister between the pages...
Amelia knows her marriage isn’t normal.
It’s always been more than just her and Ken. Her detective husband is married to his cases, and more often than not, Amelia ends up sleeping alone.
When an exclusive book club extends her an invitation, Amelia finally finds the connection she’s been craving.
But this isn’t a normal book club. As her husband’s investigation escalates, Amelia is beginning to see unsettling parallels between the women she’s growing close to and the murders he can’t seem to solve.
But these murders aren’t random.
And neither was her invitation to the Dead Girls Book Club.
A fast-paced, twisty domestic psychological thriller for fans of Freida McFadden, Shari Lapena, and Daniel Hurst.
Amelia knows her marriage isn’t normal.
It’s always been more than just her and Ken. Her detective husband is married to his cases, and more often than not, Amelia ends up sleeping alone.
When an exclusive book club extends her an invitation, Amelia finally finds the connection she’s been craving.
But this isn’t a normal book club. As her husband’s investigation escalates, Amelia is beginning to see unsettling parallels between the women she’s growing close to and the murders he can’t seem to solve.
But these murders aren’t random.
And neither was her invitation to the Dead Girls Book Club.
A fast-paced, twisty domestic psychological thriller for fans of Freida McFadden, Shari Lapena, and Daniel Hurst.
Audible Audio
First published January 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 626 reviews
February 8, 2026
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed most of The Dead Girls Book Club. The mystery was engaging, the atmosphere kept me hooked, and I flew through the pages. Unfortunately, the final twist revealing the murderer didn’t quite work for me. It felt rushed and less developed than the rest of the story, which took away from an otherwise compelling read. I’m still glad I picked it up, but I was left wishing for a more satisfying ending.
I really enjoyed most of The Dead Girls Book Club. The mystery was engaging, the atmosphere kept me hooked, and I flew through the pages. Unfortunately, the final twist revealing the murderer didn’t quite work for me. It felt rushed and less developed than the rest of the story, which took away from an otherwise compelling read. I’m still glad I picked it up, but I was left wishing for a more satisfying ending.
February 25, 2026
Honestly, I guessed the ending… then I changed my mind, and I was so sure I had it right… when I was right to begin with. A good twist!
February 25, 2026
I have lots of thoughts on this and unfortunately most of them aren’t great. Starting with a huge pet peeve of mine a when the story contradicts itself. Saying “she finds herself squished in the car between two people” and the following sentence saying “she leaned her head on the cool window”…. When have you ever sat in a middle seat with a window?? I want that on my next plane ride. And the first book club meeting where she gets so drunk she leaves her car….. then never goes back for it. But don’t worry! it’s in the driveway later in the story? Little things like this throughout the book truly ruined the flow.
The twist was just… not good. It felt like each character served a clear purpose - Sam and Casey were completely useless characters but without them, there would be no one else to suspect. Either build them into believable warranted characters, or leave them out. And lastly, I’m not sure if we’re supposed to know from the first chapter who the “other woman” is, but I pegged it from the very first interaction.
It wasn’t awful or the worst thing I’ve ever read, but would love to see a more developed version of the story.
The twist was just… not good. It felt like each character served a clear purpose - Sam and Casey were completely useless characters but without them, there would be no one else to suspect. Either build them into believable warranted characters, or leave them out. And lastly, I’m not sure if we’re supposed to know from the first chapter who the “other woman” is, but I pegged it from the very first interaction.
It wasn’t awful or the worst thing I’ve ever read, but would love to see a more developed version of the story.
February 22, 2026
For as many psychological thrillers as I read I have no idea how I am still shocked at the ending of each 😂 Like Detective Ken Sanders I am not a good detective. Will definitely be awaiting the second installment of this series!
February 15, 2026
I felt the book could have developed the surprise more. The twist just was too thin on evidence to buy it.
May 5, 2026
I’d call this one just okay. I was actually leaning toward a 3 star rating as the premise pulled me in, and the beginning had me genuinely intrigued. There was enough tension and mystery early on to make me want to keep going.
But somewhere along the way, things started to unravel. By the time I reached the ending, it all felt unnecessarily chaotic. The final twist, in particular, didn’t land for me. It came out of nowhere and felt more forced than clever, like it was thrown in just to wrap things up rather than naturally building toward it. There was also another twist near the end that I saw coming early on. Not the exact person, but I knew it would be someone within the group rather than a complete outsider. It felt predictable from the start.
The characters also made it hard to stay invested. Their behavior often felt exaggerated and unrealistic, to the point where I kept stopping and thinking, “Wait… who actually behaves like this?” Instead of adding depth or complexity, it just made everything feel messy in a way that pulled me out of the story.
But somewhere along the way, things started to unravel. By the time I reached the ending, it all felt unnecessarily chaotic. The final twist, in particular, didn’t land for me. It came out of nowhere and felt more forced than clever, like it was thrown in just to wrap things up rather than naturally building toward it. There was also another twist near the end that I saw coming early on. Not the exact person, but I knew it would be someone within the group rather than a complete outsider. It felt predictable from the start.
The characters also made it hard to stay invested. Their behavior often felt exaggerated and unrealistic, to the point where I kept stopping and thinking, “Wait… who actually behaves like this?” Instead of adding depth or complexity, it just made everything feel messy in a way that pulled me out of the story.
February 24, 2026
I devoured The Dead Girls Book Club by Zia Rayyan in a single day, and I honestly haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
This book was unsettling, sharp, and deeply validating in a way I didn’t know I needed. As a domestic violence survivor, it scratched an itch that so few thrillers ever do: it understands power, control, silence, and the slow burn of fear beneath polished lives. Nothing felt gratuitous. Everything felt intentional.
Dark, intelligent, and emotionally precise; this is the best book I’ve read in quite some time. If you love psychological thrillers that linger and see you, put this at the top of your list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No notes. Just wow.
This book was unsettling, sharp, and deeply validating in a way I didn’t know I needed. As a domestic violence survivor, it scratched an itch that so few thrillers ever do: it understands power, control, silence, and the slow burn of fear beneath polished lives. Nothing felt gratuitous. Everything felt intentional.
Dark, intelligent, and emotionally precise; this is the best book I’ve read in quite some time. If you love psychological thrillers that linger and see you, put this at the top of your list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No notes. Just wow.
March 1, 2026
Pure insanity 👏🏽
April 2, 2026
Awesome Read!!
Good read, twist at end 👍🏼 recommend book definitely worth reading keeps you wanting to read more. . . .
Good read, twist at end 👍🏼 recommend book definitely worth reading keeps you wanting to read more. . . .
April 30, 2026
This one was great!!
Rtc
Rtc
March 13, 2026
Oohhhh my gosh this book was sooo freak’n good!!! I absolutely loved it and just couldn’t get enough!!! Oh my wow the twists 😳😳 This was such an amazing read I can’t wait till the second book comes out even tho yes these could be read as a standalone.. 😅 I just can’t wait lol
April 6, 2026
First off, this book had me in a chokehold the entire time I was reading it. I actually feel the need to write a full length review for this book. So I found this while I was just casually scrolling through books on Kindle unlimited so that I could find something new to read from an author I had never heard of before. I am so beyond glad that I picked up this book. I forced my husband to listen to the last two chapters while I read them out loud. Just so he could hear how excited I was to have guessed correctly. Now don’t get it twisted, I did guess the ending. Which I never mind because I love being able to scream and hoot and holler about how right I was when the twist finally comes along.
With that being said, I guess you have to have a similar understanding and experience with certain things to be able to guess the ending. This was a 100% enjoyable book and enjoyable author, who I will in fact be reading more from. I already have something else in mind by her and this is the first book in a series so I am more than excited to continue the series. I recommend this book wholeheartedly and I definitely just recommended it to my sister who has been making me read book after book. 🤣
It’s my turn. And this is my recommendation! If you’re hesitant about starting this book, just do it! I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did! Happy reading!
With that being said, I guess you have to have a similar understanding and experience with certain things to be able to guess the ending. This was a 100% enjoyable book and enjoyable author, who I will in fact be reading more from. I already have something else in mind by her and this is the first book in a series so I am more than excited to continue the series. I recommend this book wholeheartedly and I definitely just recommended it to my sister who has been making me read book after book. 🤣
It’s my turn. And this is my recommendation! If you’re hesitant about starting this book, just do it! I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did! Happy reading!
December 29, 2025
There is something so satisfying about reading the first page of a book, and immediately something in your brain goes 'Yes, I’m really going to like this' and then every subsequent page proves you right. However, it didn’t even take a whole page for me with this one, it had me at sentence number 4!
This is a whodunnit that will have you wondering whodunnit right up to the very end.
A story that made me question myself because I was rooting for the baddie the whole way through 😬.
I haven’t met a Zia Rayyan book I didn’t like yet but this has just become my favourite.
The protagonist was instantly relatable, to I imagine, many women; a lonely grown up female, longing for friendship & in a stale relationship, realising she had lost herself. I felt for her, I wanted her to get what she craved. A sisterhood, a tribe, unconditional love. It’s not a soppy tale though, there is murder, violence, lying, cheating….all the necessities of a fantastic thriller & a twist you won’t see coming.
Zia writes from a female point of view perfectly, you won’t find any infuriating women making the kind of decisions that have you rolling your eyes at them. They are fierce but likeable, fallible, insecure but strong & real.
If you want a book you will struggle to put down, this won’t disappoint at all. It’s perfectly paced so ‘just one more chapter’ never works out that way. I blazed through this, being very fortunate to be a beta reader for Zia, I highly recommend for you to read this as soon as it’s released.
Absolutely loved it.
This is a whodunnit that will have you wondering whodunnit right up to the very end.
A story that made me question myself because I was rooting for the baddie the whole way through 😬.
I haven’t met a Zia Rayyan book I didn’t like yet but this has just become my favourite.
The protagonist was instantly relatable, to I imagine, many women; a lonely grown up female, longing for friendship & in a stale relationship, realising she had lost herself. I felt for her, I wanted her to get what she craved. A sisterhood, a tribe, unconditional love. It’s not a soppy tale though, there is murder, violence, lying, cheating….all the necessities of a fantastic thriller & a twist you won’t see coming.
Zia writes from a female point of view perfectly, you won’t find any infuriating women making the kind of decisions that have you rolling your eyes at them. They are fierce but likeable, fallible, insecure but strong & real.
If you want a book you will struggle to put down, this won’t disappoint at all. It’s perfectly paced so ‘just one more chapter’ never works out that way. I blazed through this, being very fortunate to be a beta reader for Zia, I highly recommend for you to read this as soon as it’s released.
Absolutely loved it.
March 11, 2026
What a read!!
Imagine living in a city where the only person you have a connection to is your detective husband and your marriage therapist?! No friends or family. So when you meet someone new and she invites you to join a book club you willingly jump at the chance. A chance for real friends, conversations and book. You join the Dead Girl's Book Club. Then strange things start happening. There is a serial killer in town. Targeting men. Your detective husband, believes it's a woman. Could it be one of your new found friends? A quick read that had me guessing and LOVING the twist at the end!
Imagine living in a city where the only person you have a connection to is your detective husband and your marriage therapist?! No friends or family. So when you meet someone new and she invites you to join a book club you willingly jump at the chance. A chance for real friends, conversations and book. You join the Dead Girl's Book Club. Then strange things start happening. There is a serial killer in town. Targeting men. Your detective husband, believes it's a woman. Could it be one of your new found friends? A quick read that had me guessing and LOVING the twist at the end!
February 18, 2026
I LOVED this book. It's a genuine page turner, and action packed from the start. My one gripe is the ending. I hated the ending (the last 20 pages or so) and how Amelia ended up being the killer. It could have gone so many different ways in my opinion, and in turn ended up being quite disappointing and anticlimactic after an amazing build up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2026
I’m not sure if it’s because I read this book after two absolute BANGERS (in my humble opinion, of course!), but I just…I just didn’t love it. I liked it, but didn’t love it. I didn’t feel the characters were fleshed out enough to really be immersed in their stories, and although it felt like quite a zippy read, I just didn’t have the sense of palpable thrill in the storyline I was hoping for.
February 17, 2026
loved this one!
4.5⭐
fast, easy read.
4.5⭐
fast, easy read.
May 15, 2026
I definitely went in thinking this was going a different direction and towards the end the plot twist got me🤌🏾 definitely a good read!!!
March 9, 2026
Mystery thriller with one heck of a plot twist 🤯
March 23, 2026
OMG. OMG OMG OMG. This book was great! A one sitting read. I thought it knew. Then I was like oh, its this. I WAS WRONG! But the twist was totally plausible and made complete sense! 6🌟 read. 100%
March 21, 2026
5+ Stars!!!! Great book with a clever and engaging storyline throughout!! I couldn’t put it down😁😁. This book is definitely a thriller that can’t be beat!!
Read and enjoy 😊😊!!
Read and enjoy 😊😊!!
April 4, 2026
3.5 ⭐ rounded up to 4
February 19, 2026
3.5 ⭐️!
Flew through this one in a few hours! Fast paced, easy read thriller with an interesting ending!
I can’t say I loved it but I also can’t say it wasn’t my favourite. Nice intro to a new author!
Flew through this one in a few hours! Fast paced, easy read thriller with an interesting ending!
I can’t say I loved it but I also can’t say it wasn’t my favourite. Nice intro to a new author!
February 14, 2026
Oooo Zia.. I like this one ❤️🔥
April 2, 2026
Quick and easy read. Totally sucked me in!! Short chapters
March 31, 2026
I’m ready for part 2!
February 11, 2026
this book was absolutely amazing. a fast paced thriller with everything you could want in a murder/mystery. it has sisterhood, a ride or die book club and homicide and twists you don't see coming. this is the first book I have read by this author, and I will most definitely be reading all the rest.
April 27, 2026
April 2026 book club pick💗
I had never heard of this book or this author before. It was picked as my book club’s April book and I went into it completely blind. I had sooo much fun reading this. It’s not the most amazing masterpiece, but it was short and very fast paced. I read it in a day because I could not put it down. The narration style was great and the plot was right up my alley. Loved the twist!
I had never heard of this book or this author before. It was picked as my book club’s April book and I went into it completely blind. I had sooo much fun reading this. It’s not the most amazing masterpiece, but it was short and very fast paced. I read it in a day because I could not put it down. The narration style was great and the plot was right up my alley. Loved the twist!
February 6, 2026
Oh my. This book was a hot mess.
February 20, 2026
Read like an 8th grade creative writing narrative that was due by the end of the class period
Displaying 1 - 30 of 626 reviews