This is an incredible historical fiction tale set in 1930s LA. I love reading historical fiction that centers around non-white or lesser-explored groups during well-known historical times. It was a legit page-turning mystery that kept me guessing about whodunit the whole time. I loved this book and can't wait to put it into the hands of students who love mystery and historical fiction.

"Kill Her Twice" by Stacey Lee is a riveting historical thriller that seamlessly blends suspense with rich period details. The gripping narrative follows a determined protagonist navigating a treacherous world of crime and deceit. Lee’s deft storytelling and well-drawn characters make for a compelling and immersive read.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️💫

Really great book. Good mystery and history of how the Chinese were treated in the 1930’s. I really liked the main characters, especially Gemma. She was a bit more forward thinking for the times yet still tried to maintain her traditional upbringing. As the second daughter she probably did have a bit more freedom than May who was expected to take care of her sisters and learn her role as a woman who would one day marry. I liked the bit of romance for May as well as his character. I would definitely read another book by this author.

A strong historical mystery for teen readers! It moved a little slowly at times, but I loved the 1930s Los Angeles Chinatown setting, old Hollywood and glamour, and character development - especially May, Gemma, and Peony!

this was a delightful historical fiction read! i enjoyed the time setting, the dual pov of the differing sisters, and the suspenseful mystery.

i felt on the edge of my seat the entire time trying to solve the mystery alongside the chow sisters and was delightfully surprised in the end. though despite that, i do have to admit that the ending felt a bit rushed. the small bits of romance were fun but i felt like one of the relationships could’ve ended so much better, but alas it was set in the 1930s.

Despite the gorgeous cover and the absolutely captivating premise, this book was entirely disappointing. (I feel like a hater, but I genuinely did not find this book any good beyond simply " it was ok.")

Lulu Wong, a rising Hollywood star and the darling pride of Los Angeles Chinatown, was found murdered. Despite Lulu's glorious climb to stardom, the police are less than interested in investigating her death due to her race, which leaves sisters May and Gemma to solve their old friend's case and bring her the justice she deserves.

As much as I wanted to fall in love with the characters, they lacked that extra depth that kept me invested in their fates. They simply felt like what they were: characters on a page. When you watch a show or a movie, you typically want to feel something. you want to be moved by what the actors are doing or feeling and resonate with the essence of the story. I felt disconnected from both May and Gemma, and I honestly couldn't care at all what happened to either of them. (And I also literally forgot the third sister, Peony, even existed for a good chunk of this book.)

I do think Stacey Lee did a wonderful job of capturing the gritty essence of 1930s Chinatown. Her prose is rich and definitely something to be admired. You can get a sense that Lee did research to accurately portray the challenges Chinese Americans faced in this time period, and in my opinion, the historical aspects were the best part of this book.

The pacing felt sluggish to the point that the overall storyline felt bland and dull the more you continued, but it did make the mystery easy to follow. They is my first Stacey Lee book, so I don't know whether or not her other YA historical fictions compare, but Kill Her Twice was a book with a very compelling premise and a stunning cover that didn't have that meat to fully bring the book all together into an excellent masterpiece.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Group for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is a young adult murder mystery set in 1932 Chinatown that delves into xenophobia, family dynamics, self determination, and many other important societal issues I think are relevant even today.

It took a bit to get into the whole who dunnit aspect but I can’t say I’m complaining. There’s a lot of layers to a story like this and I loved slowly unraveling them. It was interesting and certainly eye opening to see the parallels of bigotry presented in the context of this novel (set in the 1930s) to racism against minorities in today’s society. The dehumanization, the racial stereotypes, the lack of care and effort in the investigation for the death of a Chinese American actress, and more importantly the role the media plays were all things I found not only highlighted excellently by the author but portrayed realistically and significantly. Seeing the Chow sisters navigate it all while faced with their own troubles along with carrying the responsibility of untangling their friends murder made for one hell of a compelling story that I could not put down!!

Firstly I want to say thank you to the net galley team for giving me the chance to read this!

Starting with the scene, this is one of the books that immediately grabbed my attention (and I been in a massive book slump) not only that but the Los Angeles scene made me feel like I was actually there. Everything was descirbed so vividly that I never felt more entranced by a book. If anyone is also a fan of dual pov's that this book also has it! I loved the way we got to see more of the characters due to these pov's. Overall Stacey Lee did such a fantastic job and I can't wait to gift this book for my friends.

The cover is also astronomically goregeous.

“What if I told you that the feeling we call love is actually the feeling of metaphysical recognition, when your soul remembers someone from a previous life?”

In the year 4 BCE, an ambitious courtier is called upon to seduce the young emperor—but quickly discovers they are both ruled by blood, sex and intrigue.

2 stars. ☆

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

los angeles, 1932: almost everyone recognizes lulu wong as the pride of chinatown and a movie star, particularly the chow sisters—may, gemma, and peony—who were once lulu's neighbors and former classmates. the girls recognize a dead body right away because it belongs to lulu, whose body they find one morning in a remote stable, far from the beverly hills house she moved into once her popularity took off. it's their job to solve the murder themselves, and maybe save their neighborhood too. kill her twice's plot was choppy and didn't draw me in immediately as most cosy mysteries do + i was in a reading slump while going through this so i almost couldn't finish the novel. i think the plot is such an interesting concept though!

love, mitra <3

I really loved how Stacey Lee was able to transfer me right into Los Angeles in the 1930's. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this eARC. I loved Stacey Lee's writing in this book, it truly felt very historical fiction-y. I also appreciated that it discusses the difficult life that Asian Americans had in Los Angeles in 1930. I felt like there was SO much going on and so many characters that it was hard for me to keep everything straight as well as keep my attention for long periods at a time. I felt that the soliving on the murder was slow as well and sometimes overshadowed but other plot points going on.

This is my first Stacy Lee book, and it won't be my last. I've heard that many of her other books are peoples' favorites, so I want to try those to compare.

I was intrigued by the murder mystery combined with historical fiction vibes. I loved the backdrop of LA Chinatown and I feel like I was thrown in to the rich culture. The 1930s historical setting was also intriguing. All of the elements, along with amazing character development and rich, lyrical writing, made this a winner. The dual point of view was written in a way that the characters felt distinct and I wanted to keep reading more.

I do feel like the story felt more like a slow build historical fiction than a fast paced murder mystery. I wanted more shock and thrill, and I felt like the ending didn't wrap up with as much detail as I wanted. There were certainly exciting things that happened, but I didn't feel fully invested in the plot. Overall, I enjoyed this, but it didn't blow me away.

When a beloved rising star is murdered, Gemma and May Chow know there must be more afoot than the police are letting on.

I loved the alternating viewpoints of sisters Gemma and May, as they work to keep their family afloat, and bring their friend's killer to justice. May is the beautiful and responsible older sister, with a looming arranged marriage, and dreams left unrealized. Gemma is the plucky younger sister, with a knack for talking her way in and out of almost any situation.

An entertaining historical coming of age tale that brings to life the not so glamorous underside to the bright lights of the silver screen. This story has it all, murder, mystery, sisters, humor, and the flutterings of love. Another solid novel from one of my favorite authors. A highly entertaining read, with great interaction, two different but equally intriguing sisters. Highly recommend!


I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loved the old Hollywood vibe and the way this story read. Stacey Lee does a great job taking her readers into the world she has created and this was a strong piece of historical fiction. I hadn't read anything exactly like this before and I enjoyed it. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you, Net Gallery, for the advanced copy of this book. The story is set in LA in the 30's involving the murder of an actress and her two friends that try to reveal what really happened. It started off a little corny, but I did enjoy the detective work and story line. I would definitely recommend.

I was very disappointed by this, especially in light of it being by the same author as The Downstairs Girl. It felt impossible to care about either of our narrators in Kill Her Twice. Gemma felt almost like a caricature of an impulsive person--her whole character arc was one giant "hold my beer." Because she didn't truly experience any consequences for her actions (and no, I don't consider the ending to be a consequence but an unfortunate event), she wasn't a particularly interesting character. I remember the narrator in The Downstairs Girl as being full of life, and everything about Kill Her Twice was lifeless (ha ha, it's a murder mystery, I get it.) I'll definitely read more books by Stacey Lee, but this one did not live up to my expectations.

This book was very interesting! I liked it. I would definitely be interested in reading more of Stacey Lee’s books! Check it out definitely!

If you liked These Violent Delights, I think you would love this one.

This book was so rich in culture in mystery, I was obsessed. I had never read a book set in LA Chinatown, and I had definitely never read a book set in 1930s LA Chinatown. I loved getting to see the culture of this time period and of the people living there, seeing their struggles that I had never known of before. It offered a subtle way to educate while also entertaining with a mystery. And the mystery was also so good. I struggled a little bit at times because I felt like the characters didn't have true motivation and some of the things they pursued didn't seem to fit into the character that was being built. But other than that, it was such a great murder mystery. I loved themes of family and sisterhood in this as well and that sense of family extending to the neighborhood around them. I came to really love these three sisters, and they very much reminded me of the March sisters from Little Women. There were almost parts where I was more interested in the girls than I was the actual mystery. And everything was revealed just as it should have been, having me at the edge of my seat until I could find out what happened.

"Kill Her Twice" by Stacey Lee is a riveting historical thriller that blends espionage, mystery, and a dash of romance against the backdrop of 1940s San Francisco Chinatown. The novel follows the determined and resourceful protagonist, Lily Hu, as she navigates a web of intrigue and danger to uncover the truth behind a murder.

Stacey Lee's writing is richly atmospheric, vividly bringing to life the sights and sounds of Chinatown during a tumultuous period in American history. Lily Hu is a captivating heroine, a skilled detective grappling with societal expectations and personal demons while deftly unraveling a complex conspiracy. Lee's attention to historical detail adds depth to the narrative, offering insights into the cultural dynamics and prejudices of the era.

What sets "Kill Her Twice" apart is its seamless blend of historical fiction with a compelling mystery. The plot is intricately woven, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the final pages. Alongside the suspenseful plot, Lee explores themes of identity, justice, and the resilience of marginalized communities, making the novel both thrilling and socially resonant.

While the pacing occasionally slows during moments of character introspection, these quieter scenes contribute to the emotional depth of the story and deepen our understanding of Lily Hu's motivations. The supporting cast, including a charming love interest and formidable adversaries, adds layers of intrigue and complexity to the narrative.

In conclusion, "Kill Her Twice" is a gripping and meticulously researched novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and mystery alike. Stacey Lee's storytelling prowess shines brightly in this tale of courage, betrayal, and the quest for truth in a world fraught with danger.

This was really a good book. Honestly, It surprised me how good it was. I would definitely recommend this book. I did read this book in one day.