I loved this book!! The dynamics between all the characters was perfect. You could see something like this actually play out in real life. Perfect!!

Olivia has long resented Shannon's queen bee status of Buckhead's elite with her unlimited wealth, beauty and access to her Congressman husband's power. When said husband unceremoniously and very publicly dumps Shannon for a much younger trophy wife, Olivia sees her opportunity to rule Buckhead's social scene. Crystal, the trophy wife, is naive to the backstabbing manipulation popular with the power set and finds herself out of her element, save for Jenny, the owner of the salon where everybody who is anybody visits for their beauty regimens and upkeep. Jenny hears all and sees all, and when Crystal uncovers a horrifying side gig between her new husband and Shannon's husband, Jenny helps set matters right.

Delicious thriller that kept me guessing until the end. At the start of the book, I knew which one should be dead, but things don't always work out like they are supposed to....or do they? Highly recommend this title to any who are looking for an escape into the seamier side of high society.

I loved this story! I don’t watch reality-tv shows, but I felt reading this book is what that may feel like. It was so juicy and full of drama. I loved all the characters and felt they each played an important role in describing what the neighborhood was like.
I especially liked the storyline - the ending caught me off guard! I will be recommending this book to others

Description (from cover): “Opulence. Sex. Betrayal…Sometimes friendship can be deadly.

Meet the women of Buckhead–a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships.

Shannon was once the queen bee of Buckhead. But she’s been unceremoniously dumped by Bryce, her politician husband. When Bryce replaces her with a much younger woman, Shannon sets out to take revenge…

Crystal has stepped into Shannon’s old shoes. A young, innocent Texan girl, she simply has no idea what she’s up against…

Olivia has waited years to take Shannon’s crown as the unofficial queen of Buckhead. Finally, her moment has come. But to take her rightful place, she will need to use every backstabbing, manipulative, underhand trick in the book…

Jenny owns Glow, the most exclusive salon in town. Jenny knows all her clients’ secrets and darkest desires. But will she ever tell?

Who amongst these women will be clever enough to survive Buckhead–and who will wind up dead? They say that friendships can be complex, but no one said it could ever be this deadly.”

My Thoughts:

Wow! What a read! I really enjoyed this book. Think Real Housewives meets Big Little Lies. I couldn’t put this book down. Shannon, Crystal, Karen, Olivia and Jenny are part of the elite squad of Buckhead. Shannon has just gone through a divorce with politician Bryce. Crystal is his new young wife, who is struggling to fit into the high-stakes of society in Buckhead. Karen is a realtor with a highly successful business who is married to an equally successful plastic surgeon, Mark. Olivia is married to Dean and is known as the mean one of the group. She is determined to be on top at no matter what cost. She is manipulative and snarky and the others just put up with her to save face. Jenny is the owner of Glow, the salon that is the hangout for all of the ladies. She has put her salon and her clients first and she is now eager to carve out a personal life of her own.

This story is told through the characters’ own voices. Each chapter is told through a different character and it was fun to see how their own personal lives and secrets affected each other and the story overall. It seems in Buckhead everyone is out to get ahead and they simply don’t care if they step on each other toes to get to the top. The drama that filled these pages was so intense and engaging, that it made it impossible to want to stop reading. I read this book in one day as it was so good. The author did a great job of entwining everyone’s stories and the conclusion was simply shocking. You know going into it someone is going to die clearly from the title of this book, but you have no idea of who is the victim and the circumstances surrounding the murder until the very end.

Thoroughly captivating and engaging, this story was one that left me reeling at the end with all the twists and turns. I cannot say enough good things about this read and I encourage anyone who enjoys a complex mystery to pick this one up. I have previously never heard of this author or any of her books, but after reading this one, I am going to check out her other books and I encourage other readers to do the same. If you pick this one up, you will not be disappointed.

Overall Rating: 5+ stars
Author: Jeneva Rose

Series: N/A

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Publication Date: April 26, 2022

Pages: 354

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Get It: Amazon

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Jeneva Rose's deliciously twisty new novel, One of Us is Dead. I'm already casting the movie in my mind because this would make an amazing Netflix hit.

Jenny is the devoted owner of Glow, a full service salon that caters to Buckhead's wealthiest wives. As she works her magic on the women, she is privy to many of their deepest and darkest secrets. Olivia is the cruelest of them all, determined to manipulate all of her so-called friends and maintain her reign as their controlling leader. Shannon is the former wife of slimy politician Bryce, who will stop at nothing to embarrass his ex as publicly as possible. Crystal is his young new wife who is thrown into the center of the gossip and may have some secrets of her own to hide. As Jenny begins to share some stories during her interview with a detective, we can't wait to find out who was killed...and if they deserved it...

This book starts very strong with the first chapter: Jenny, a hairdresser, is talking to a police officer about everything that has happened, about the women of Buckhead, about their husbands and their secrets. The interesting thing about that chapter is that when the cop asks who could have committed the murder (which we still don't know about), Jenny says: anyone.

Between the cover and that chapter I was already hooked. I really liked that premise and as the story progressed (up to, say, 30%) I wanted to know more and more. It did get a little slow for me at first, but there is so much happening by the end... So I have to say that the mark I gave it is how much I enjoyed it, because I think the book had several things that didn't quite click for me.

What I like most is that each of the women, even though they may trip each other up, have their own strength. In their own way, each woman stands her ground and doesn't get bullied (some do, tho. Some of them are female dogs, if you know what I mean), or at least, not towards the end. Because even if at the beginning they don't manage to impose themselves, by the end they have evolved, they have managed to overcome the obstacle that was holding them back. That's what I liked most about Shannon.

I also really liked how this novel focuses more on the social context of the town, so the important ones are THE WOMEN and not the men. They make the decisions and the ones who organize things.

About the end, the big revelation, there are a couple of things that don't quite fit. Basically because they don't explain how a person who doesn't seem to have knowledge of a certain thing is able to do it. There will be people who can, for sure, but there has been nothing throughout the book that indicates that this particular character has those abilities. Also, there are other things that, while they make sense and I enjoyed the drama, seem a bit too over the top to me. Like it's the typical series (ahem Riverdale ahem) that started out good and then they wanted to give it so many twists that they screwed it up, but in this case I think it works, I think very slightly it's like a joke or parody to that. Careful, there's no humor in that sense, everything that happens is very serious and when I say very I mean VERY. But I think that ending was maybe too convoluted and over the top. Though, as I said at the beginning, I give it 5 stars because I enjoyed it, because the drama was wonderful hahaha.

Am I going to buy the book when it comes out? Yes. For the cover? Yes. For the book itself? Yes. The drama is asking for it.

All in all, a bit long, lots of characters, lots of points of view (which works very well because the women's personalities are very well done) and there are several twists at the end that, while exaggerated, are interesting and fun. It is an entertaining book, with tension and a lot of drama. If you just want to hang out and try to solve a crime you know nothing about, I recommend it. Also, I like how it explores the role of women in these societies of rich people.

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. It is an advanced reader digital copy of the book (will be released on April 26, 2022).

-Ele

SPANISH VERSION

Este libro empieza muy fuerte con el primer capítulo: Jenny, peluquera, está hablando con un agente de policía sobre todo lo que ha pasado, sobre las mujeres de Buckhead, sobre sus maridos y sus secretos. Lo interesante de ese capítulo es que cuando el policía pregunta quién podría haber cometido el asesinato (del que todavía no sabemos nada), Jenny dice: cualquiera.

Entre la portada y ese capítulo yo ya estaba enganchada. Me gustaba mucho esa premisa y según avanzaba la historia (hasta, digamos, el 30 %) quería saber más y más. Se me hizo un poco lento al principio, pero es que al final pasaron muchas cosas. Así que tengo que decir que la nota es lo que lo he disfrutado, porque creo que el libro tiene varias cosas que no me terminan de encajar.

Lo que más me gusta es que cada una de las mujeres, incluso aunque se puedan poner la zancadilla entre alguna, tienen su propia fuerza. A su manera, cada mujer se pone en su sitio y no se deja intimidar, o al menos, no hacia el final. Porque incluso si al principio no terminan de imponerse, al final han evolucionado, han conseguido sobrepasar ese obstáculo que la frenaba. Eso es lo que más me ha gustado de Shannon, las cosas como son.

También me gustó mucho cómo esta novela se centra más en el contexto social del pueblo, por lo que las importantes son ELLAS y no ellos. Ellas toman las decisiones y las que organizan las cosas.

Sobre el final, la gran revelación, hay un par de cosas que no terminan de encajar básicamente porque no explican cómo una persona que no parece tener conocimientos de cierta cosa sea capaz de hacerlo. Habrá quién, seguro, pero no ha habido nada a lo largo del libro que indique que este personaje en concreto tenga esas habilidades. Además, hay otras cosas que, aunque tienen sentido y he disfrutado el drama, me parecen demasiado exageradas. Como si fuera la típica serie (ejem Riverdale ejem) que empezaba bien y luego quisieron darle tantos giros que la fastidiaron, pero en este caso creo que funciona, creo que muy ligeramente es como una broma o parodia a eso. Cuidado, no hay humor en ese sentido, todo lo que pasa es muy serio y mucho, pero creo que ese final fue quizás demasiado enrevesado y exagerado. Pero, como decía al principio, le pongo 5 estrellas porque lo he disfrutado, porque el drama era maravilloso jajaja.

¿Me voy a comprar el libro cuando salga? Sí. ¿Por la portada? Sí. ¿Por el libro en sí? Sí. El drama me lo pide

En resumen, un poco largo, muchos personajes, muchos puntos de vista (cosa que funciona muy bien porque las personalidades de las mujeres están muy logradas) y varios giros al final que, aunque exagerados, son interesantes y divertidos. Es un libro entretenido, con tensión y mucho drama. Si lo que os apetece es pasar el rato e intentar resolver un crimen del que no sabes nada, te lo recomiendo. Además, me gusta cómo se explora el papel de la mujer en estas sociedades de gente rica.

Este libro lo he podido leer gracias a NetGalley. Es una copia digital del libro previa a su publicación (26 de Abril de 2022).

-Ele

I loved the title and cover and from that expected much more than this novel delivered. I know I’m in the minority but the writing and the characters were not to my liking.

One of Us is Dead
by Jeneva Rose
Pub Date: April 26, 2022
Blackstone
*Mystery "Thriller
Meet the women of Buckhead--a place of expensive cars, huge houses, and competitive friendships.
Thanks to the author, Blackstone, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I loved the cover!
I went into this book blind, and I am so glad that The story is in several POVs and it mainly focuses on Jenny. Most of the characters were unlikeable. The story goes between the present and a few weeks before a murder. We as the readers don't know who is dead. I was hooked from the very first page, and finished it very fast. I had to know what was going on. What were the secrets? Who died? The ending got me really good. I didn’t expect it.
Good Book!
4 stars

Very quick paced and easy read! I enjoyed the plot and reading about all the cliquey things that went on in their little town. It was the perfect read for after a long day of work and just wanting to lay down a relax. As far as capturing me like her other book THE PERFECT MARRIAGE, I was a little disappointed with the reveal of what actually went down and who was dead. It just seemed a little too predictable for me but I still really enjoyed the book! Can’t wait to see what else Jeneva Rose has in store for us :)

This book is about the messy lives of Buckhead's rich women told from multiple povs of 5 women, Jenny a saloon owner who knows everyone's secrets, Shannon who has been dumped by her politician husband for a younger woman and is struggling to accept that, Crystal the young woman who married Shannon's husband and is trying to adjust in this new world, Olivia who has always wanted everything Shannon has and is willing to do anything for it and Karen a businesswoman, wife and mother who is discovering something new about herself.

The book starts off with Jenny getting interrogated by Detective Stanford about a mysterious murder that place in Buckhead. The question is who got murdered and who is the murderer.

The book is full of twists and surprising, it was interesting and left you wanting to know what will happen. Switching between the past and present Jenny tells you the whole story and I for one didn't see the plot twist coming

Thank you netgally for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a read!! The book starts with salon owner Jenny meeting with a detective to talk about event s that lead up to a murder. Through the different prospectives we learn the stories of the different women, all whom played a part in the death of one of their own. The book read like a tabloid at times and drew me into the drama of these wealthy women.

One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose was a phenomenal read! The characters you loved to hate. Olivia was literally the WORST. I adored the way Jeneva had all the POVs and it kept you turning the pages. I was so invested in all of these characters and what happened to them. There was such strong women in this book and I adored the way they all came together. Some twists and turns had my jaw hitting the floor. The ending was FANTASTIC. This was my first Jeneva Rose book and will definitely not be my last!

(Review also to be posted on Instagram at @biggsy_books)

This book is incredibly well written. There are multiple POVs and dual timelines and not once was I confused or bothered. The characters are so well written you can't help but hate them, but also feel for them. The story is a HOT MESS EXPRESS - real housewives meets the mafia. LOL The woman are exactly the reason why it's hard to be a female and make friends. I hated them. But I also really loved a few of them. I highly recommend going into this one blind and enjoying the ride!

This story takes place in Buckhead, GA, where the upper class enjoys flashing their success through their expensive lifestyle. The women of Buckhead can not help putting their noses into everyone’s business, and will do ANYTHING to make sure they are at the top of the social pyramid- maybe even murder. There is only one person that knows ALL of the “tea”— Jenny. Jenny owns the most exclusive salon in town, where all the Buckhead women discuss the most latest gossip. Will Jenny tell the head detective of the murder case all that she knows or will she keep quiet to protect her salon’s reputation? One Of Us Is Dead will endlessly keep you guessing who is dead and who is behind it all.

If you are a fan of “The Real Housewives”, and suspenseful, fast paced, thrillers then this book is for you!! Author of The Perfect Marriage, Jeneva Rose’s new Novel, One Of Us Is Dead is available to pre-order now or be purchased on April 26, 2022. You will not regret it!! 5/5 stars!

Thank you @netgalley, @blackstonepubling and @Jenevaroseauthor for an e-ARC copy of One Of Us Is Dead in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delectably juicy thriller that I sped through in one sitting! It was so addictive! The unlikable characters, breakneck pace and unpredictable plot all combined to create a thrilling atmosphere that I never wanted to put down. I loved the rich people drama- it was super entertaining. I give it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who loves domestic thrillers.

(Spoilers alert) Jeneva Rose delivers in all the right ways in her newest release, One of Us is Dead. After reading her former book, The Perfect Marriage, I was excited to jump right into whatever this author penned next! Well, Jeneva did not disappoint. Drama unfolds immediately from the first chapter with the police questioning main character, Jenny. Is she a suspect, a witness, a victim...

We experience retelling of past events right from the interrogation room with Jenny and our detective. Through her eyes; the likeable and very much middle class, natural, working girl of the group of friends, we are introduced to the other women. They are rich, upper scale, wealthy women. They are catty, backstabbing, and one is even sleeping with one of her friends husbands. I found the drama layered amongst the deep history of friendship riveting and I could not pull my eyes away from the page.

Center stage, is Shannon whose husband has traded her in for a younger model, named Crystal. There's Olivia, who is a pure and unapologetic mean girl driven to do whatever it takes to be at the top of the upper echelon of the food chain, including stepping on a few friends and over a few bodies, sex trafficking ring, you name it... Olivia is capable of more!

The pack of girls are slow to come to the reality of what a monster Olivia truly is. But, the innocence is pulled from everyone's eyes when new wife Crystal, whose very in love with her new hubby uncovers that the women are not the only ones keeping secrets. Crystal's character has a sexy purity about her but harbors a past she wishes to keep, well, in the past. But, Crystal has an angry ex-wife to deal with and an entire culture of privilege that expects her to fit into the mold like jello. She and her new hubby share some steamy moments in the book before things get dark. And boy do they go dark.

Jenny serves as a light in the story. I shifted from liking her in the beginning to loving her in the end. Jenny seems vulnerable, she's single, and a pull herself up by her bootstraps kind of soul who just happens to be the secret keeper for all our femme fatales. Jenny often seems thrown, by no fault of her own, into the world of these scheming women. She is both babysitter and mediator. Then, things get really criminal when Jenny's salon is broken into and she is attacked, completely unprovoked. Why Jenny?

This cast of characters have character. There's the married queer character embracing who she is during a fake tanning session, there's a young woman forced to face the traumatic abuse from her past, there's the emotion of women in the same room wanting to claw the other's eyes out, and there's the pain of the loss of ones place in society and within their inner circle.

The twist of this novel is definitely one worth waiting for. The brilliant final chapter is outstanding! And through the novel, you will switch sides, guess whose dead at least 7 different times with 7 different characters in mind, laugh out loud and feel the pain and embarrassment of a thrown aside wife throwing herself at her ex publicly. Jeneva Rose's new novel is fun, stunning and invokes a girl's night out kind of feel. This slow burn thriller builds and unfolds the mystery in layers. It's an enjoyable tale that makes you wonder about the very grey line between wrong and right...when it's for the greater good. And someone most definitely does end up dead!

✨✂️ A MOST ANTICIPATED 2022 READ ✂️✨

Thanks to @netgalley, @blackstonepublishing and @jenevaroseauthor for this e-arc of One of us is Dead in exchange for my honest review. This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!

Author: @jenevaroseauthor
Genre: thriller
Mood: mysterious, dark, tense
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: April 26, 2022

#readandsiprecommends to read if:
•you love a neighborhood thriller where you can’t trust anyone
•you like dual timelines and POVs
•The Hunting Wives with an extra dash of glam and drama à la The Real Housewives would bring you joy

Review: this bitchy, twisty thriller is loaded with drama, backstabbing and deceit among the rich women of Buckhead.

I love that the inspiration for this story stems from Jeneva’s own realization that people reveal more than they intend sitting in their salon chair. With that most of the story is set in Jenny’s salon where the women are catty, constantly trying to one-up each other and cut someone out — mostly at Olivia’s prodding. I felt sympathetic to the characters ensnared in Olivia’s wrath.

The story is told via dual timelines with Jenny in present day recounting what happened to a detective and in the past with multiple POVs. I love the way the story is unfolded so that you don’t know who was even murdered until the very end. And who you suspect is the killer may not be wholly accurate either.

I do wish I’d gotten a little more depth on the characters and the motives in their actions - Olivia specifically - as well as a bit more background into the sinister side dealings of the elite.

Last year I loved reading @may_cobb’s #thehuntingwives so I was really excited that this book gave me all those vibes.

🚨 TW: mentions of domestic abuse, bullying

3 for neutral. Unfortunately this one was not for me! Will update if able to finish at a later date!

I cannot say enough good things about this book; One of Us Is Dead is an easy, thrilling read that keeps you entertained, on your toes, and salivating for what is going to happen next. I would highly recommend it to anyone, even those who don't really like thrillers too much because it's not as dark or twisted as some others out there.

One of Us is Dead is a mash-up of texts like Big Little Lies and The Hunting Wives. Fans of domestic thrillers will absolutely fall for this new release. It is a quick, engaging read that had me wanting to know more. Who is dead? Who did it? Why? This will be one of the best domestic thrillers of the year easily.