KILL HER TWICE, by Stacey Lee, G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, April 23, 2024, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult)
Sisters investigate the murder of a movie star in Kill Her Twice, a YA murder mystery noir by Stacey Lee.
LOS ANGELES, 1932: Lulu Wong, star of the silver screen and the pride of Chinatown, has a face known to practically everyone, especially the Chow sisters—May, Gemma, and Peony—Lulu’s former classmates and neighbors. So, the girls instantly know it’s Lulu when they discover a body one morning in an out-of-the-way stable, far from the Beverly Hills home where she lived after her fame skyrocketed.
The sisters suspect Lulu’s death is the result of foul play, but the police don’t seem motivated to investigate. Even worse, there are signs that point to a cover-up, and powerful forces in the city want to frame the killing as evidence that Chinatown is a den of iniquity and crime, even more reason it should be demolished to make room for the construction of a new railway depot, Union Station.
Worried that neither the police nor the papers will treat Lulu fairly—no matter her fame and wealth—the sisters set out to solve their friend’s murder themselves, and maybe save their neighborhood in the bargain. But with Lulu’s killer still on the loose, the girls’ investigation just might put them square in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded murderer. —Synopsis provided by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
I’m a fan of Stacey Lee (The Downstairs Girl). Add her flair for historical fiction and a murder mystery noir, and you’ve got a recipe for an enticing read.
Kill Her Twice revolves around May and Gemma, Chinese sisters who are trying to keep the family floral business afloat while their father is sick. The two are as close as can be, but their different temperaments make for some conflict. The story unfolds from their alternating points of view.
Set against the backdrop of anti-Chinese sentiment and the move to get rid of Los Angeles’ Old Chinatown, Kill Her Twice is more than just a who-done-it. Competing interests mean the only people actively trying to solve Lulu’s murder are May and Gemma.
With lots of great banter, sticky situations and suspenseful twists, Kill Her Twice almost plays out like a film itself. At nearly 400 pages, the book reads a lot faster. That’s all down to Lee’s smooth writing and excellent pacing. Lee transports you to another place and time — one where you don’t want to leave.
Copyright © 2024 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
