What do you think?
Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls
Murder is an art . . . and she's the next masterpiece.
A 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.
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?
A 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.
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?
Paperback
First published July 21, 2026
About the author
Cynthia Murphy
11 books964 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 261 reviews
August 9, 2026
This book had a really interesting idea, especially with the creepy paintings, old murders, and the connection to new killings. I liked following Fliss as she tried to figure out what was really happening, and the historical parts about the original victims were probably my favorite. That said, the story felt a little slow in places and I didn’t connect much with the characters. The mystery was creative, but I found some parts confusing and the ending didn’t have quite the impact I was hoping for. Still, it was an enjoyable read with a unique concept, so I’m giving it 3 stars.
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
July 27, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
Give me creepy paintings, a possible curse, a serial killer and an aspiring crime journalist trying to figure it all out, and I’m instantly hooked. The premise alone had me wanting to pick this up and for the most part, it delivered.
The mystery was definitely the highlight for me. I loved following Fliss as she went down every rabbit hole, digging through old archives and trying to connect all the clues. It genuinely felt like I was trying to solve the case with her and I kept changing my mind about who was behind everything.
The creepy atmosphere was also done really well. Every time the paintings came up I was like… absolutely not. I also liked that I could never fully decide if there was actually something supernatural going on or if someone was just really good at messing with people.
And the ending?? I definitely didn’t see it coming and I love when a thriller can actually surprise me.
Overall, this wasn’t a new favourite, but it was a really entertaining read. If you like creepy mysteries with true crime vibes, a bit of horror and lots of twists, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go.
Give me creepy paintings, a possible curse, a serial killer and an aspiring crime journalist trying to figure it all out, and I’m instantly hooked. The premise alone had me wanting to pick this up and for the most part, it delivered.
The mystery was definitely the highlight for me. I loved following Fliss as she went down every rabbit hole, digging through old archives and trying to connect all the clues. It genuinely felt like I was trying to solve the case with her and I kept changing my mind about who was behind everything.
The creepy atmosphere was also done really well. Every time the paintings came up I was like… absolutely not. I also liked that I could never fully decide if there was actually something supernatural going on or if someone was just really good at messing with people.
And the ending?? I definitely didn’t see it coming and I love when a thriller can actually surprise me.
Overall, this wasn’t a new favourite, but it was a really entertaining read. If you like creepy mysteries with true crime vibes, a bit of horror and lots of twists, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go.
April 3, 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
July 22, 2026
4 ⭐️ 2.5 🔪
This was a fast-paced YA mystery with a unique premise that blended investigative journalism, art history, and just enough horror to keep things unsettling. I loved uncovering the truth alongside Fliss, and the creepy paintings added an eerie atmosphere without overpowering the mystery.
A page-turning mystery with serial killers, cursed artwork, and dark academia vibe! Definitely worth picking up.
This was a fast-paced YA mystery with a unique premise that blended investigative journalism, art history, and just enough horror to keep things unsettling. I loved uncovering the truth alongside Fliss, and the creepy paintings added an eerie atmosphere without overpowering the mystery.
A page-turning mystery with serial killers, cursed artwork, and dark academia vibe! Definitely worth picking up.
August 8, 2026
Great title and interesting story but here’s what bothered me:
A bunch of folk are being murdered locally and neither of the girls’ parents rush home.
The main character wanted to investigate these cold cases from the 1900s and literally all she did was some Googling and got nowhere. She also then went on a tangent where she planned a house party that was … okay, whatever.
By the 200th page nothing had been figured out and then (spoiler) she just walks in on the killer at the end so none of the first half of the book was even relevant.
Oh yeah and then she needs to phone the police but she left her phone at home - she’s in a public gallery…there will be a phone! Try a desk?
And she also goes to the police early on but she visits her college campus police who aren’t really police and they just give her a rape alarm and send her on her way.
Ughhhh maybe I’m too old for YA. Or I just hate crime novels.
A bunch of folk are being murdered locally and neither of the girls’ parents rush home.
The main character wanted to investigate these cold cases from the 1900s and literally all she did was some Googling and got nowhere. She also then went on a tangent where she planned a house party that was … okay, whatever.
By the 200th page nothing had been figured out and then (spoiler) she just walks in on the killer at the end so none of the first half of the book was even relevant.
Oh yeah and then she needs to phone the police but she left her phone at home - she’s in a public gallery…there will be a phone! Try a desk?
And she also goes to the police early on but she visits her college campus police who aren’t really police and they just give her a rape alarm and send her on her way.
Ughhhh maybe I’m too old for YA. Or I just hate crime novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
August 23, 2026
Moja pierwsza książka po angielsku i napewno nie ostatnia!! Momentami zapominałam że czytam po angielsku…
Nawet ok ale trochę się dłużyła😐
3/5⭐️
Nawet ok ale trochę się dłużyła😐
3/5⭐️
July 2, 2026
I had really wanted to love Paint Me Like One of Your Dead Girls because the premise immediately grabbed my attention. It felt unique, creepy, and different from a lot of other mystery books I’d picked up lately. I also really enjoyed the true crime vibe woven throughout the story, and the connection to the art gallery and the paintings added an eerie atmosphere that I thought was the book’s strongest element.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the concept for me. The pacing was incredibly slow. There were times when it felt like I’d read ten pages and the characters were still sitting in the same place, having conversations without much actually happening. I kept waiting for the story to pick up, but it didn’t really speed up until the very end.
One thing I’d recommend is going into this book with the right expectations. Despite how it’s often marketed, I wouldn’t call it a thriller. It read much more like a slow-burning mystery. If you enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a true crime feel and don’t mind a leisurely pace, this might work well for you. For me, though, the intriguing premise and that beautiful cover design weren’t enough to overcome the slow pacing and underdeveloped characters.
Thank you to Cynthia Murphy, #Netgalley, and Penguin for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the concept for me. The pacing was incredibly slow. There were times when it felt like I’d read ten pages and the characters were still sitting in the same place, having conversations without much actually happening. I kept waiting for the story to pick up, but it didn’t really speed up until the very end.
One thing I’d recommend is going into this book with the right expectations. Despite how it’s often marketed, I wouldn’t call it a thriller. It read much more like a slow-burning mystery. If you enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a true crime feel and don’t mind a leisurely pace, this might work well for you. For me, though, the intriguing premise and that beautiful cover design weren’t enough to overcome the slow pacing and underdeveloped characters.
Thank you to Cynthia Murphy, #Netgalley, and Penguin for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2026
A twisty little thriller with a throwback to an unsolved crime / mystery artist from the past and a cursed painting (or is it?)
I liked this! Fliss wants to be an investigative journalist and her dad wants her to study art - what better way to combine the two than to research the mysterious painting they find at an estate sale with a questionable and potentially gory past?
This is a YA thriller and there are definitely some YA moments (parents who aren't present, a teen party) and some thoughts from our main character that felt a bit childish (the desire to dislike her dad's new wife even though she has no good reason and acknowledges she is a nice person) but I still found it really enjoyable.
I really enjoyed the mystery of the painting and the glimpse into the past timeline, and the crimes taking place across both. I also loved the tie in to the tarot cards. I found myself going through the possibilities for who the killer could be in the present timeline and did not even consider who it turned out to be, I was completely surprised.
This is my second read by Cynthia Murphy and both were quite different but enjoyable!
Audio: single narrator
Notes: I enjoyed the cadence and the tone the narrator used throughout and it felt very natural and expressive. A great performance.
I liked this! Fliss wants to be an investigative journalist and her dad wants her to study art - what better way to combine the two than to research the mysterious painting they find at an estate sale with a questionable and potentially gory past?
This is a YA thriller and there are definitely some YA moments (parents who aren't present, a teen party) and some thoughts from our main character that felt a bit childish (the desire to dislike her dad's new wife even though she has no good reason and acknowledges she is a nice person) but I still found it really enjoyable.
I really enjoyed the mystery of the painting and the glimpse into the past timeline, and the crimes taking place across both. I also loved the tie in to the tarot cards. I found myself going through the possibilities for who the killer could be in the present timeline and did not even consider who it turned out to be, I was completely surprised.
This is my second read by Cynthia Murphy and both were quite different but enjoyable!
Audio: single narrator
Notes: I enjoyed the cadence and the tone the narrator used throughout and it felt very natural and expressive. A great performance.
September 19, 2026
Thank you Getunderlined and PRHAudio for the gifted copy to read, listen, and review.
The narrators were good with different accents. This book was okay, a bit slow paced for my liking.
This story followed Fliss. Her dad is an art history professor. He took her to an estate sale and bought this painting that looks like a self portrait of the artist himself. Then her dad went on a honeymoon with his new wife and Fliss was to do house sitting for him and attend summer school. While he's away, she was to help out at the art gallery. There, she saw four more paintings, which depicts women who appears bound and dead. It belongs to the same artist as the painting at her dad's house. The mystery puzzled and intrigued Fliss. She decided to dig into the mystery, especially after some paperwork fell out from the painting at her dad's house. Also, someone Fliss met at the art gallery was found murdered the next day. Fliss was shaken but murder investigation also intrigued Fliss. She decided to investigate and stop this modern day copycat murder.
The narrators were good with different accents. This book was okay, a bit slow paced for my liking.
This story followed Fliss. Her dad is an art history professor. He took her to an estate sale and bought this painting that looks like a self portrait of the artist himself. Then her dad went on a honeymoon with his new wife and Fliss was to do house sitting for him and attend summer school. While he's away, she was to help out at the art gallery. There, she saw four more paintings, which depicts women who appears bound and dead. It belongs to the same artist as the painting at her dad's house. The mystery puzzled and intrigued Fliss. She decided to dig into the mystery, especially after some paperwork fell out from the painting at her dad's house. Also, someone Fliss met at the art gallery was found murdered the next day. Fliss was shaken but murder investigation also intrigued Fliss. She decided to investigate and stop this modern day copycat murder.
March 26, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
okay someone take my netgalley login away...
I'm really excited for this thriller!!! eeekkk
Eh this one was really such a miss for me. Horror vibes perfect for halloween, creepy paintings which are potentially haunted with the last owner killed. The paintings are known to have a curse, only who would believe in that? It's just a painting, until deaths start..
The audiobook was easy to get into, the beginning I felt was setting up a good foundation, then... I found I couldnt' quite connect with the characters and truthfully found Fliss to be annoying at times.
I was ready for it to be over about halfway through and didn't find it helping with my growing sense of a reading slump coming in.
okay someone take my netgalley login away...
I'm really excited for this thriller!!! eeekkk
Eh this one was really such a miss for me. Horror vibes perfect for halloween, creepy paintings which are potentially haunted with the last owner killed. The paintings are known to have a curse, only who would believe in that? It's just a painting, until deaths start..
The audiobook was easy to get into, the beginning I felt was setting up a good foundation, then... I found I couldnt' quite connect with the characters and truthfully found Fliss to be annoying at times.
I was ready for it to be over about halfway through and didn't find it helping with my growing sense of a reading slump coming in.
July 24, 2026
Fliss Keller is looking forward to the next few weeks. Her dad & his new wife are off on honeymoon, leaving Fliss & her best friend to spend the time attending a summer art class & generally hanging out. Beforehand, she attends an estate sale & uncovers a disturbing self-portrait which gets her Art History professor father's attention as it could be the long-thought lost companion piece to The Four - a set of four paintings of women which are owned by the local gallery. It's also rumoured to be cursed but Fliss doesn't believe in that kind of thing.
That evening the portrait falls to the floor & the damaged frame reveals paperwork suggesting the artist was a serial killer & that The Four are in fact his victims. Fliss decides to investigate as part of her work for the summer class but when murders start to happen which resemble the paintings, it seems there may be a copycat killer on the loose.
This was a really interesting plot with the mystery based around the paintings & the notion of a curse. It was a little slow to get going but I found it grew on me as I continued reading, & the final third was gripping. I liked the main character but her BFF was a bit of 'Debbie Downer' at times. Overall, it was a perfectly acceptable YA thriller with an intriguing concept & I rather enjoyed it.
SUMMARY:
Plot: Good - Really interesting plot which was a little slow to get going, based around a set of 5 paintings & a possible historical serial killer.
Writing Style: Good - I liked the MC but her BFF was annoying. Some reviewers didn’t like the step by step guide to MC’s investigation through the archives but I quite liked it.
Enjoyment Level: Moderately High - A bit slow to get going, but this YA thriller incorporating historical murders grew on me. The final third was gripping.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House UK Children's, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
That evening the portrait falls to the floor & the damaged frame reveals paperwork suggesting the artist was a serial killer & that The Four are in fact his victims. Fliss decides to investigate as part of her work for the summer class but when murders start to happen which resemble the paintings, it seems there may be a copycat killer on the loose.
This was a really interesting plot with the mystery based around the paintings & the notion of a curse. It was a little slow to get going but I found it grew on me as I continued reading, & the final third was gripping. I liked the main character but her BFF was a bit of 'Debbie Downer' at times. Overall, it was a perfectly acceptable YA thriller with an intriguing concept & I rather enjoyed it.
SUMMARY:
Plot: Good - Really interesting plot which was a little slow to get going, based around a set of 5 paintings & a possible historical serial killer.
Writing Style: Good - I liked the MC but her BFF was annoying. Some reviewers didn’t like the step by step guide to MC’s investigation through the archives but I quite liked it.
Enjoyment Level: Moderately High - A bit slow to get going, but this YA thriller incorporating historical murders grew on me. The final third was gripping.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penguin Random House UK Children's, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
August 3, 2026
༺⟡༻ 4 stars ༺⟡༻
A big thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am a mystery/horror fiend and one of my favorite tropes is when the story is open-ended enough that the reader can question whether there is a supernatural element or it’s all ordinary - this book has exactly that. A mysterious self-portrait of an artist is found, matching a collection of 4 grotesque portraits of women, painted with a mixture of their hair and blood; the artist is theorized to be a serial killer, and his “muses” the victims. Are the paintings an occultist ritual? A manifestation of psychopathy? This book leaves room for the reader to get creative.
I quite liked the story. Although I guessed the reveal and the ending was a little bit weaker than I would’ve liked, the buildup was great. The murders were creative (especially the connection to the art) and Fliss’s investigation had me invested. I also really liked Fliss and Izzy - I think they’re an accurate representation of 2 teenagers with different coping mechanisms being thrust into a copycat killer’s hunting ground without any trustworthy adults nearby (also I reallyyyy saw myself in Fliss; bbg would love Criminal Minds).
Overall, a really solid, fun YA thriller! It was a quick and entertaining read, and I think if you’re like me and live for Criminal Minds or mysteries that blur the lines between supernatural and natural, you’ll like this one ♡
A big thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am a mystery/horror fiend and one of my favorite tropes is when the story is open-ended enough that the reader can question whether there is a supernatural element or it’s all ordinary - this book has exactly that. A mysterious self-portrait of an artist is found, matching a collection of 4 grotesque portraits of women, painted with a mixture of their hair and blood; the artist is theorized to be a serial killer, and his “muses” the victims. Are the paintings an occultist ritual? A manifestation of psychopathy? This book leaves room for the reader to get creative.
I quite liked the story. Although I guessed the reveal and the ending was a little bit weaker than I would’ve liked, the buildup was great. The murders were creative (especially the connection to the art) and Fliss’s investigation had me invested. I also really liked Fliss and Izzy - I think they’re an accurate representation of 2 teenagers with different coping mechanisms being thrust into a copycat killer’s hunting ground without any trustworthy adults nearby (also I reallyyyy saw myself in Fliss; bbg would love Criminal Minds).
Overall, a really solid, fun YA thriller! It was a quick and entertaining read, and I think if you’re like me and live for Criminal Minds or mysteries that blur the lines between supernatural and natural, you’ll like this one ♡
July 28, 2026
Thank you to #NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC of this book! ⭐️
Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls follows our main character Fliss and her best friend as they work to uncover a series of mysteries surrounding a set of famous portraits, all spurred on from Fliss finding the fifth missing portrait.
What happens when the supposed serial killer artist of the original paintings seemingly comes back to their small town? Is it a curse, a ghost, or something worse?
This book has mystery, murder, and splash of both supernatural and romance. Something for everybody!
I really enjoyed this book, it’s fast-paced and the characters are endearingly relatable in places - I’m used to guessing the ending but with this book there were so many turns I couldn’t!
There were a few parts that felt a little slow or unnecessary, and I do agree with other reviewers that the romance was a bit out of the place but not enough for it to affect my enjoyment.
Overall I give this book 3.5/5 stars 🌟 I’d recommend people to read it as it’s unique and I’ve never read a plot like it!
Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls follows our main character Fliss and her best friend as they work to uncover a series of mysteries surrounding a set of famous portraits, all spurred on from Fliss finding the fifth missing portrait.
What happens when the supposed serial killer artist of the original paintings seemingly comes back to their small town? Is it a curse, a ghost, or something worse?
This book has mystery, murder, and splash of both supernatural and romance. Something for everybody!
I really enjoyed this book, it’s fast-paced and the characters are endearingly relatable in places - I’m used to guessing the ending but with this book there were so many turns I couldn’t!
There were a few parts that felt a little slow or unnecessary, and I do agree with other reviewers that the romance was a bit out of the place but not enough for it to affect my enjoyment.
Overall I give this book 3.5/5 stars 🌟 I’d recommend people to read it as it’s unique and I’ve never read a plot like it!
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.
July 29, 2026
Thanks so much to Penguin Australia for sending me a copy of this one. All thoughts are my own.
This was such a gripping thriller horror combo. I was hooked from the start with the lore around the paintings and it only got more exciting from there.
I thought Fliss was a great main character. She’s got a keen eye for detail and she hyperfixates easily, which made her the perfect person to be investigating this. I loved all her sleuthing even if her best friend didn’t.
The climax to this was excellent. I was on the edge of my seat! So well executed.
This was such a gripping thriller horror combo. I was hooked from the start with the lore around the paintings and it only got more exciting from there.
I thought Fliss was a great main character. She’s got a keen eye for detail and she hyperfixates easily, which made her the perfect person to be investigating this. I loved all her sleuthing even if her best friend didn’t.
The climax to this was excellent. I was on the edge of my seat! So well executed.
August 14, 2026
4.75⭐️
Holy wow.. I’m FRICKING mind blown I did not guess who the killer would be! I had my guesses and dare I said I was mind blown.. this has gotten me out of my reading slump so thank Cynthia!!!
This gave off vibes of a good girls guide to murder and I loved every moment.. I may or may not have stayed up til 4-5am the past 2 nights reading this… the way the paintings were described gave me goosebumps!
Holy wow.. I’m FRICKING mind blown I did not guess who the killer would be! I had my guesses and dare I said I was mind blown.. this has gotten me out of my reading slump so thank Cynthia!!!
This gave off vibes of a good girls guide to murder and I loved every moment.. I may or may not have stayed up til 4-5am the past 2 nights reading this… the way the paintings were described gave me goosebumps!
September 8, 2026
ARC review 3.75 ⭐️ This took me longer than expected to finish .. because I kept putting it down. I wanna thank the author and the publisher for the opportunity. So from the beginning I definitely enjoyed the book. The idea of the mystery of the paintings was something new to me which I enjoyed. The ambition of fliss of solving the mystery definitely was enjoyable for someone who just wants to know answers and the anticipations However, I felt like in the middle it was a bit confusing on what was really happening. Wish the ending was better that anticipated but overall wasn’t too bad.
September 13, 2026
4.5⭐️
Thank you penguin teen and netgalley for an e-arc of this book.
Overall I loved this book. I enjoyed the writing as well as the plot. It was highly suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was that main character would get angry every time the police wouldn’t let her get involved in the investigation. Overall a fun and enjoyable read.
Thank you penguin teen and netgalley for an e-arc of this book.
Overall I loved this book. I enjoyed the writing as well as the plot. It was highly suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was that main character would get angry every time the police wouldn’t let her get involved in the investigation. Overall a fun and enjoyable read.
July 12, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc!
Such a good and atmospheric read. I was on the edge of my seat a few times and I loved the shift in perspectives. A really good read!
Such a good and atmospheric read. I was on the edge of my seat a few times and I loved the shift in perspectives. A really good read!
August 9, 2026
Really really enjoyed this book! I had feelings but was never sure but at the end I was like aaaaah how did I not see it!!!
August 18, 2026
I didn’t know that this was YA before I bought it so naturally it’s my fault for not enjoying the book as much as I intended to. That’s why I’m giving it 4 instead of 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2026
a little sluggish at times but I really liked this. Did not see the twist coming.
Read
July 20, 2026Felicity "Fliss" Keller is meant to be house-sitting for her dad for ten days, where they live just off a college campus where he teaches. During an estate sale before he leaves, they find an infamous painting that has been missing for decades that is said to have a morbid history. As soon as that painting is back in the hands of a local gallery, bad things start to happen, and Fliss thinks that there may even be a copycat killer in Blackwood.
I had been anticipating Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls for several months as I waited to see if I would get approved for a copy of it on NetGalley. The cover is what immediately drew me in, with the bright smoky pinks, but the synopsis as well sounded right up my alley. Any serial killer crime intrigues me, and I was looking forward to it. This one was such a slow burn that at times I almost forget that this was supposed to be a YA thriller. It felt like most of the action happened in the last 30% of the book, which made for a fun ending but had me struggling for a lot of the rest of the book. The historical aspect was fascinating, and I almost wish there was a bit more from the past, since those women deserved to have their voices heard. Overall, this one was just okay for me.
CW for murder, blood, fire injury details, underage drug/alcohol use, death.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Delacorte for the ARC of Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls. All thoughts are my own.
I had been anticipating Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls for several months as I waited to see if I would get approved for a copy of it on NetGalley. The cover is what immediately drew me in, with the bright smoky pinks, but the synopsis as well sounded right up my alley. Any serial killer crime intrigues me, and I was looking forward to it. This one was such a slow burn that at times I almost forget that this was supposed to be a YA thriller. It felt like most of the action happened in the last 30% of the book, which made for a fun ending but had me struggling for a lot of the rest of the book. The historical aspect was fascinating, and I almost wish there was a bit more from the past, since those women deserved to have their voices heard. Overall, this one was just okay for me.
CW for murder, blood, fire injury details, underage drug/alcohol use, death.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Delacorte for the ARC of Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls. All thoughts are my own.
August 10, 2026
This book surprised me. The book jacket makes it sound amazing and like a twisting tale of discovery in a museum and this fell flat. Totally flat. Zones out so much I wondered if I should even count it in my year in books total. Narrator hard to follow fluidly (and I love accented readers!) even the scene with the murderer wasn’t thrilling. I expected much more
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I need you to understand that the SECOND this book whispered “serial killer paintings,” my brain turned into that Always Sunny conspiracy board meme. Strings everywhere. No thoughts, just vibes and suspicion. Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls had me fully ready to spiral, accuse innocent side characters, and distrust every single brushstroke like it personally wronged me.
And honestly? For a while… it WORKED. We’ve got Fliss Keller, aspiring crime journalist and professional “I will absolutely insert myself into a murder investigation with zero qualifications,” who stumbles across a creepy painting at an estate sale. A painting that is not just ugly, but historically, spiritually, morally off. Naturally, her dad buys it and brings it home like it’s a cute throw pillow instead of what is essentially a haunted murder artifact. Incredible parenting choices across the board.
Turns out this painting completes a set tied to four murdered women, known as “The Four,” and suddenly we’re knee-deep in art history, cold cases, and the kind of true crime energy that makes you want to open 17 tabs and ruin your own mental health. But THEN, because the universe has a flair for drama, new murders start happening that mirror the originals, and Fliss is like, oh cool, I will simply solve this myself before I become the next canvas. Casual teenage summer activities!
Let me be clear, the concept is doing Olympic-level gymnastics. A killer who paints victims, the idea of art as immortality versus erasure, the eerie question of whether this is a copycat or something more supernatural… it’s juicy. It’s weird. It’s exactly the kind of premise that makes you text your friend at midnight like, “If I die, burn all paintings immediately.” And the flashbacks to the original victims? Genuinely the best part. Those chapters hit different. There’s something quietly devastating about seeing who these women were before they became aestheticized tragedy. It adds this emotional weight that the rest of the book keeps almost, but not quite, matching.
Because then… we hit the middle. And I love you, Cynthia Murphy, I do, but this middle section had me feeling like I was trapped in a very moody, very aesthetic waiting room. The pacing slows down in a way that’s less “building tension” and more “why am I reading a full transcript of Fliss’s search history.” There’s a lot of day-to-day teen life, side tangents, and investigative steps that feel like they’re circling the mystery instead of tightening the noose. I wanted escalation. I wanted chaos. I wanted at least one moment where someone dramatically gasps and drops a glass.
Fliss herself… listen, she’s fine. She’s doing her best. She’s smart, determined, and has the self-preservation instincts of someone who has never seen a horror movie in her life. But emotionally? She didn’t quite leap off the page for me. She’s giving “competent protagonist” when I needed just a little more “unhinged icon.” The friendships, especially with Izzy, had moments that felt real and messy in a good way, but the wider cast? A blur. At one point I was like, if you asked me to identify these people in a lineup, I would simply pass away.
The mystery itself is… solid. Not mind-melting, not throw-the-book-across-the-room shocking, but engaging enough that you keep turning pages. There are red herrings, there are clues, there’s that constant low-level paranoia of “everyone could be evil,” which I personally thrive on. But depending on your detective instincts, you might either be pleasantly surprised or sitting there ten steps ahead like, “Fliss. Babe. Please catch up.”
And the ending? It’s giving “we are wrapping this up quickly because we have a flight to catch.” Not bad, not offensive, just a little rushed compared to the slow build. I wanted one more emotional beat, one more moment to sit in the aftermath, maybe stare dramatically into the middle distance and question everything. Instead it kind of… exits stage left.
Here’s the thing though, I still had fun. This is a vibes-forward book, and the vibes are STRONG. Creepy paintings, dark academia energy, morally questionable artistic obsession, it’s basically what would happen if A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder went to art school and developed a superiority complex. It just never fully commits to the level of chaos it promises, which feels like being handed a glitter bomb that politely sprinkles instead of exploding.
So yeah, this lands at a very firm three stars for me. Entertaining, atmospheric, occasionally haunting, but not quite the unhinged masterpiece it could have been. Would I still recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you love a mystery that lets you play detective without emotionally wrecking you.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Deeply Suspicious of Every Gallery Wall I’ve Ever Trusted
And thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC, you really said “what if art… but trauma,” and I respect that.
And honestly? For a while… it WORKED. We’ve got Fliss Keller, aspiring crime journalist and professional “I will absolutely insert myself into a murder investigation with zero qualifications,” who stumbles across a creepy painting at an estate sale. A painting that is not just ugly, but historically, spiritually, morally off. Naturally, her dad buys it and brings it home like it’s a cute throw pillow instead of what is essentially a haunted murder artifact. Incredible parenting choices across the board.
Turns out this painting completes a set tied to four murdered women, known as “The Four,” and suddenly we’re knee-deep in art history, cold cases, and the kind of true crime energy that makes you want to open 17 tabs and ruin your own mental health. But THEN, because the universe has a flair for drama, new murders start happening that mirror the originals, and Fliss is like, oh cool, I will simply solve this myself before I become the next canvas. Casual teenage summer activities!
Let me be clear, the concept is doing Olympic-level gymnastics. A killer who paints victims, the idea of art as immortality versus erasure, the eerie question of whether this is a copycat or something more supernatural… it’s juicy. It’s weird. It’s exactly the kind of premise that makes you text your friend at midnight like, “If I die, burn all paintings immediately.” And the flashbacks to the original victims? Genuinely the best part. Those chapters hit different. There’s something quietly devastating about seeing who these women were before they became aestheticized tragedy. It adds this emotional weight that the rest of the book keeps almost, but not quite, matching.
Because then… we hit the middle. And I love you, Cynthia Murphy, I do, but this middle section had me feeling like I was trapped in a very moody, very aesthetic waiting room. The pacing slows down in a way that’s less “building tension” and more “why am I reading a full transcript of Fliss’s search history.” There’s a lot of day-to-day teen life, side tangents, and investigative steps that feel like they’re circling the mystery instead of tightening the noose. I wanted escalation. I wanted chaos. I wanted at least one moment where someone dramatically gasps and drops a glass.
Fliss herself… listen, she’s fine. She’s doing her best. She’s smart, determined, and has the self-preservation instincts of someone who has never seen a horror movie in her life. But emotionally? She didn’t quite leap off the page for me. She’s giving “competent protagonist” when I needed just a little more “unhinged icon.” The friendships, especially with Izzy, had moments that felt real and messy in a good way, but the wider cast? A blur. At one point I was like, if you asked me to identify these people in a lineup, I would simply pass away.
The mystery itself is… solid. Not mind-melting, not throw-the-book-across-the-room shocking, but engaging enough that you keep turning pages. There are red herrings, there are clues, there’s that constant low-level paranoia of “everyone could be evil,” which I personally thrive on. But depending on your detective instincts, you might either be pleasantly surprised or sitting there ten steps ahead like, “Fliss. Babe. Please catch up.”
And the ending? It’s giving “we are wrapping this up quickly because we have a flight to catch.” Not bad, not offensive, just a little rushed compared to the slow build. I wanted one more emotional beat, one more moment to sit in the aftermath, maybe stare dramatically into the middle distance and question everything. Instead it kind of… exits stage left.
Here’s the thing though, I still had fun. This is a vibes-forward book, and the vibes are STRONG. Creepy paintings, dark academia energy, morally questionable artistic obsession, it’s basically what would happen if A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder went to art school and developed a superiority complex. It just never fully commits to the level of chaos it promises, which feels like being handed a glitter bomb that politely sprinkles instead of exploding.
So yeah, this lands at a very firm three stars for me. Entertaining, atmospheric, occasionally haunting, but not quite the unhinged masterpiece it could have been. Would I still recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you love a mystery that lets you play detective without emotionally wrecking you.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Deeply Suspicious of Every Gallery Wall I’ve Ever Trusted
And thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for the ARC, you really said “what if art… but trauma,” and I respect that.
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