The First Cut is the Deepest

by Mindy McGinnis

A hilarious, glittering, pop-noir thriller about a rising musician and her new BFF, the secretly psychotic popstar who brought her on tour

Gretchen McMurphy was playing bingo halls and dive bars until a fitness influencer used her breakup anthem to help followers get a better booty, and now she’s landed her dream gig—opening for iconic pop star Fae Deeds.

Suddenly Gretchen has things she’s not used to a sizeable income, screaming fans, bottled water preferences, and a friend who understands the pressures of the music industry, the daily battle of being a woman in the public eye, and what it feels like to have every man you’ve ever loved hurt you.

Fae really gets it. Fae knows. Fae has developed her own tools for dealing with these issues—and it’s not good coping skills or proper meditation. It’s much, much sharper than that. And pretty soon Gretchen must decide what (and who) she’s willing to sacrifice for fame.

Razor-sharp and riotously funny, The First Cut is the Deepest by Mindy McGinnis is a deliciously unhinged thrill ride down the music industry’s darkest alleys.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 12, 2027

About the author

Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy.

While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.

Reviews

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is delightfully and gloriously unhinged and I loved reading every word.

[Stacy Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is this book so funny, witty, and full of twists and turns? The First Cut is the Deepest by Mindy McGinnis is everything all rolled into one. It is simultaneously dark and hilarious. I enjoyed the quirky characters and fast paced story telling.

Gretchen is a rough around the edges, up-and-coming musician that is discovered and finds herself opening for the one and only Fae Deeds, a pop princess icon of the ages. Fae understands everything Gretchen is going through: pressures of the industry, the struggles of being a woman in the public eye, and what it is like for a man to hurt you.

This novel is a reader’s backstage pass to a raucous musical, murderous ride. I loved it. The relationship between Gretchen and Fae, while outrageous, feels so realistic at the same time. In the fore front is female friendship, empowerment, with a side of revenge. But don’t get it twisted, this is not the type of friendship anyone wants!

And the ending… oh my goodness, a real gasp escaped me. I didn’t see it coming and that made me love it even more. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected, it was far more wonderful than I could have imagined. Hilariously dark, weirdly empowering, and very fun to read. Felt like a behind the scenes look at fame where pop culture meets messy feminism, with a sexy dose of murder. I don’t want to give anything away but these characters are perfect in every way, I wouldn’t change a thing about them.

Thank you Penguin Random House for providing this advanced reader copy for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Tori Boudreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House | G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC!
Gretchen has spent years playing dive bars and tiny venues until one of her songs suddenly blows up after being used by an influencer 🎶. Now she’s opening for major pop star and ultimate nepo baby Fae Deeds, which throws her headfirst into fame, chaos, and the complicated world of celebrity friendships. Along the way she has to deal with old relationships resurfacing, the pressures of sudden success, and Fae’s very questionable coping mechanisms 👀.

I absolutely devoured this book. I had a feeling I knew what kind of ride I was getting into, and it delivered everything I wanted and more 😅. I saw the author describe it somewhere as Daisy Jones & The Six meets Dexter, and honestly the Dexter comparison is spot on. The contrast between Gretchen’s grungier vibe and Fae’s polished pop princess persona made their dynamic so entertaining to read. Fae especially was chaotic in the most fascinating way possible.

I also loved following them on tour and watching the friendship between Gretchen and Fae evolve 🎤✨. There’s a little romance woven throughout, but it never overpowers the thriller plotline, which I appreciated. Even though there were a few moments I questioned character-wise, I was so invested in the story that I flew through it without stopping to overanalyze anything.

💭 Overall, I absolutely loved this and immediately bought a physical copy after finishing the ARC 📚. Dark, addictive, chaotic, and so much fun, and I already know this will end up being one of my favorite thrillers of the year ✨.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gretchen McMurphy is living her dream come true. Plucked from relative obscurity by mega pop star Fae Deeds to be an opening act, her star is rising fast. Money, sponsorships, relationships- everything she wants is just at her fingertips now. Not to mention her burgeoning status as Fae’s bestie and Gretchen’s life has never been better. Whereas Fae is light and bubbles and butterflies, Gretchen is crass rude and unfiltered. Guess opposites attract. But there’s always a catch, isn’t there? Can Fae really be as kind and generous as she seems? Or is there a dark side lurking underneath all that glitter ? Gretchen is in too deep to back out now but maybe she should - before it’s too late.
Cleverly crass and outrageously graphic, this thriller is a fun, fast read about toppling the patriarchy but maybe at too high a cost.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Reneé Lasswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Is it easier to be a man or a woman? What are we talking about here? Lifting heavy things or getting laid? Menstruating or being a fucking jackass? I need parameters, that’s a stupid question. Get better at your job. —Gretchen McMurphy, unprinted portion of Lavalier interview"

This is one of the chapter headers from the book. I felt it so perfectly captured the personality of our main character. If you didn't find this snarky reply humourous then you won't appreciate the dark humor if this book. Mindy has something to be proud of in this adult debut thriller.

[Allie Cho · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was extremely campy and not at all what i expected - if you go into it with an open mind and with that knowledge then I think it can be enjoyable, there were definitely some times I laughed aloud. But overall I just don't think this is the niche for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC though - it's always a pleasure