Stacey Lee has a sophisticated but accessible style of writing that will appeal to an audience beyond YA. Historical fiction, mystery noir, Kill Her Twice is a captivating story that's atmospheric and integrates Asian American historical elements organically. I'm always entertained and learning something new when I read Lee's books. Thumbs up!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stacey Lee for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Kill Her Twice coming out April 23, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read another book by Stacey Lee, so I really enjoy her writing. I was excited to check out this book. I love old classic Hollywood and was really interested in learning more about 1930s Chinatown in California. I have Chinese heritage, so I love Asian books. I really liked this story, but I wished I loved it more. I think the 400 pages was a little too long for the murder mystery. It felt like instead of skipping all the busy work detectives go through, the story showed all of it. We watched the women hit every dead end lead. I think I would’ve enjoyed the story more if it was a little tighter and focused more on the murder mystery instead of the romance. I think things came together a little too quickly at the end.

In 1932 teenaged Gemma Chow, like many Los Angelenos, burns with a spirit of reinvention, but with her dad ill and her mother expecting, practical matters rule until Gemma, and her beautiful sister May, discover the discarded body of their childhood friend and rising film star, Lulu Wong. The sisters are determined to secure justice for Lulu and embark on a murder investigation full of old-time Hollywood glamour, anti-Chinese racism, and a little romance. Lee excels at creating lively, winning main characters and the sisters’ alternating chapters showcase irrepressible Gemma and practical May. A strong historical setting almost balances the far-fetched escapades. While colorful phrases and extended metaphors often land, wordiness occasionally overwhelms the story. Based on the real 1933 demolition of L.A.’s Chinatown and the career of Anna May Wong, this updated historical mystery will please fans of Lee’s previous work. Main characters are Chinese American. Most white characters read as two-dimensional. Includes California-specific content. Review based on an ARC. Thanks to G.P. Putnam and NetGalley for an Advance Readers Copy in return for an unbiased review.

Trigger/Content warnings for this book: Racism and alluding to homophobia

Tropes in Kill Her Twice:
-Beautiful starlet murdered
-Police & government corruption
-Arranged marriage
-Citizen investigation

Summary/Thanks:
In Los Angeles in 1932, Lulu Wong is enjoying her meteoric rise into movie stardom. She is the pride of her home of Chinatown, and still has friends there. When her friends and former classmates May and Gemma Chow find a body hidden in a stable in their neighborhood, they immediately know that it’s Lulu. But who would kill the darling of Hollywood, right when she was in the middle of filming a groundbreaking new movie? The Chow sisters are determined to find out who did this to Lulu, since the police seem to have no real desire to find the true killer. May and Gemma and their younger sister Peony find themselves surrounded by danger as their quest to find justice for Lulu brings them face-to-face with corrupt police and government officials who have their own agendas for how they think Lulu’s case should be “investigated.” Will the sisters be able to uncover the truth behind Lulu’s murder before the killer catches on to their investigation? Thank you to Stacey Lee, NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group & G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for an ARC of Kill Her Twice in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:
This book started out a little slow for me, but once I got into it, I could not put it down. I had to speed-read the last fifteen percent of the book because I was dying to know who the killer was! I had so many guesses and predictions while I was reading this book about who had actually killed Lulu, but none of them were correct. The last few twists in this book before the killer and their motives were revealed were like a roller coaster for me!

Stacey Lee wrote a beautiful story with Kill Her Twice. She really captures the essence of sisterhood with the relationship between the Chow sisters, and the heartbreak of losing touch with friends you were once close with. I loved the characters in this book – even the villains were brilliantly written and fleshed out. The quippy dialog between the sisters was really enjoyable to read as well. The sense of community that I got from reading this book was really powerful. This story is a heartbreaking and uplifting one – with so much uncertainty surrounding whether or not Chinatown is going to be demolished for a train station. But, you still get the feeling that this community is so strong and tied together that, even if their homes are destroyed and they must find new ones, they will still all exist as one community.

I didn’t expect the last two chapters to make me so emotional, but I was definitely a little teary-eyed reading Gemma and May’s last chapters. The epilogue really got me – there was such a beautiful sense of hope and positivity in that chapter, and you could really sense Gemma’s excitement for what was going to come next for their family. This book definitely had a happy ending that I was not expecting at some parts during this book, and I would recommend it for anyone who loves mysteries, historical fiction, or books set in the 1930s!

I really enjoyed Kill Her Twice! I didn’t realize this was a YA novel until I actually got into the book and I was a little bit skeptical about how much I would enjoy it knowing that, but I didn’t think that took away from the story at all. I think this will appeal to an adult audience, no question. Focusing on Chinatown in Los Angeles in the 1930s and the racism that Chinese people faced during that time was a great backdrop for this story and really helped to develop the conflicts and offered lots of opportunities to mistrust certain characters. I also loved the Hollywood angle, and the politics. This was just a really well written and well-rounded mystery. I was hooked until the end and I had absolutely no clue how it was going to work out. I would have liked a bit more story after the big reveal rather than basically heading straight into the epilogue, but the loose ends are tied up nicely. I’ll definitely recommend this book!

When their friend is murdered and the police won't help, even though she was a celebrity.....a Chinese celebrity in an LA known for their bias, these sisters will take on the task themselves. They can't just let her death go unavenged.

The back story and the well built community kept this mystery moving at a quick pace. The sisters Chow are three dimensional and have all the strengths and weaknesses found in any family. Their interactions as they work together to solve their friend's death make the story much stronger and definitely more enjoyable. And the solve......well, it's meant to be a surprise and it is!!

A noir mystery about two sisters who must solve the murder of their starlet friend, set in 1932 Los Angeles... where the silver screen is a deadly place and filled with secrets. Lulu Wong is a starlet who is the pride of Chinatown, she was friends/neighbors with the Chow sisters- May, Gemma, and Peony before she made it big. The girls discover Lulu's body one morning while doing their job as flower market girls, and are convinced that her death was a murder. The police are not motivated to solve it so the girls take it into their own hands to figure out what happened... yet the more they dig into it the more the signs begin to point to a cover-up and that there are powerful people involved in it. All the while May and Gemma are dealing with their own perspective relationship drama, with May reconnecting with a suitor who she never considered and Gemma seeing a handsome doctor with secrets of his own. Lulu's killer is still on the loose, and the closer the girls get to uncovering the truth the closer they are to being the next target. This was definitely a noir mystery that I think people can have fun reading. It just felt a little slow and a bit flat to me, however I did love the cultural aspects and the sister relationship between Gemma and May. The historical setting was really well done and the overall mystery definitely fit the noir theme. Overall, it was an okay mystery read that I feel like other mystery lovers will have fun reading!

*Thanks Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

4.5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was good. This was real good.

Our two leads, sisters Gemma and May, were both so interesting and complex, going through their own growth as they tried to solve a murder.

Their sisterly bond and dynamic was the star of this book. I loved their relationship and how they bounced off each other and built each other up. Even their youngest sister, Peony, who didn’t get a POV, was an important part of the story and was another example of the bonds between sisters.

I love the idea of these 3 girls just refusing to back down against the injustices and wrongs in their story and their relentless pursuit of the murderer.

The only thing that left me unsatisfied was Freddie. He and Gemma didn’t get any sort of resolution or closure!

If you want to read an engaging, twisty murder mystery about doing what is right and fighting for yourself that highlights the relationships between sisters, then pick this one up!

While I enjoyed the dual point of view between Gemma and May, I felt as if this divided the book too much and I needed more depth of character from each sister.

The setting felt so real and the tough issues facing Asian people during this time felt painful, frustrating and more than maddening at the unfairness and cruelty. After reading the author's note, I know this novel was well researched, making it feel so authentic.

The mystery had so much potential and I never figured out who the murderer was so this part was excellent. The use of monologuing was disappointing and I had hoped for a different way to learn all the facts about the crimes. I had issues with the pacing, however, as this seemed to move too slowly until the final chapters. The stakes were high enough and the danger level could have been elevated to increase suspense.

I really enjoyed the sister relationship and this was my favorite part. May and Gemma truly love and support each other and I enjoyed how they teased and joked too.

Kill Her Twice places the reader into the lives of the Chow sisters living in Chinatown in 1930s Hollywood. It’s a story of segregation and racism, of Hollywood noir, and of sisterly bonds and family.

I was immediately engaged with the story and enjoyed the different perspectives provided by May’s and Gemma’s unique POVs. Both sisters are extremely well developed and show enormous growth throughout the story. Although the plot dragged at times, I was invested in both Lulu’s and Chinatown’s stories and wanted to see justice prevail. There are so many relevant and important themes in the story, and Lee shines a light on them with a light-touch while still being direct in her messaging.

I live in a city where an entire ward of homes in a majority Black neighborhood were decimated in the 1960s, all in the name of innovation and progress. It’s only in recent years the city has begun to reckon with and atone for this act. This story is not unique. It’s important to share them so we can continue to learn, grow, and make amends.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/ G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Gemma and May Chow are doing their best to keep the family flower business afloat in 1930’s Los Angeles. Their beloved Ba was sent away for his health, their mother is expecting again and it seems the whole of the city is trying to destroy Chinatown to build Union Station. With so much racism swirling through the city it’s no surprise when something terrible happened.
Lulu Wong was May’s best friend growing up but she had made it out of Chinatown. A rising star in Hollywood the pride of Chinatown!!! But when May and Gemma find her murdered in Chinatown they know she will never get the justice she deserves. The police don’t seem to care about a murdered Chinese woman even one who was a star. So the Chow sisters set out to solve the mystery themselves, and maybe save their beloved Chinatown along the way.
This book was astounding, a Historical Fiction meets Murder Mystery for the ages. It brings light to the plight of Chinese Americans in the 1930’s unable to own land, or be full citizens. Viewed as drug addicts, violent and criminals it’s hard to prove otherwise when the people with the most money say you are. I highly recommend this novel. It has mystery, suspense, adventure, and a hint of romance.
Disclaimer: while I received a free copy of this novel, the thoughts and opinions about it are solely my own.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 The Black Dahlia’s gruesome murder rocked Los Angeles in 1947, a crime still notorious nearly a century later. Kill Her Twice paints us a picture of the City of Angels in 1932, where old Hollywood’s glitz and grit shines. Nestled within the pristine and wealthy neighborhoods is Chinatown, and the murder of one of its own shakes the community. Stacey Lee writes this era with such precision, it truly feels like time travel. An absolutely beautifully written and gripping piece of historical fiction that you will not want to put down. The many layers of Lulu’s death and its impact on the Chinese American community, specifically Gemma, May, and Peony, is amazingly captured. Kill Her Twice is the perfect read for those who love historical fiction with a twist of crime!

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is posted on Goodreads and it will be on Instagram 4/22 right before publication!

Genre: YA Historical Mystery

Synopsis:
A Chinese noir star in the 1930s is found murdered. Two young girls set out to solve the murder.

This is set in the 1932 in Los Angeles and Chinatown. The cover and synopsis made me think it was going to be all about noir and I was a little worried since I don’t love that. It actually was better than I thought it would be. The noir/Hollywood part just has to do with the victim and her background. The main focus is on the lives of the sisters who try and solve her murder and they come from Chinatown. It was more about the racial and inequality struggles of the Chinese in the 1930s than noir.

The teens become amateur sleuths and the mystery was fun to follow. The author did a good job of depicting the stigma of the Chinese culture at that time and weaving it into the story without over doing it.

I listened to it on audio and enjoyed the dual POV of the two sisters. I would read more from this author!

Thank you PRH Audio & Penguin Teen for the gifted copy! 💋

This book was a really informative, 1930s based mystery story. I found that this story really opened up my mind to the struggles that faced Chinese Americans--I knew a little bit, but I definitely learned about more experiences through reading this. I thought that the clues and the mystery in this story were well-plotted and really compelling. Overall, I really enjoyed this! I have read from this author before, so I had some expectations going in and they were definitely far surpassed by the actual reading experience.

In 1932, Los Angeles, Lulu Wong is a famous actress and the pride of Chinatown. May, Gemma, and Peony Chow are Lulu’s former classmates and neighbors. The sisters recognize Lulu when they discover a body and suspect foul play, but the police aren't motivated to investigate. Signs point to a cover-up, and factions want to frame the killing as evidence that Chinatown is a den of iniquity and crime, and should be demolished. The Chow sisters are determined to solve the murder and save their neighborhood. With Lulu’s killer still at large, the investigation likely will catch the murderer's attention.

May is the oldest and more filial of the Chow girls, while Gemma often charges ahead and is more outgoing. Peony is the youngest at twelve, and of a similar age to Lulu's younger sister, while Lulu's was older than May and encouraging her to get into acting as well. The two families were close before Lulu's fame, so the sisters feel obligated to look into her death, especially when they are the ones to find her and call the police. Police looked for an easy way out, but the girls use their friendships and connections in the community to ask around for hints as to what may have happened, and Gemma isn't above lying and pretending to be Lulu's sister to get clues. They get far closer together than the police intended, and find out a lot more about Lulu's final days they think.

I enjoyed the red herrings placed along the way, the details about Chinatown of the period, and the way the sisters bonded through the search. Their personality differences may have clashed at times, but they complement each other's strengths and pulled together in the tense finale. This is a fantastic noir mystery novel.

Set in 1932 in Los Angeles we have the Chinese American family who sell flowers. The Chow family has 3 daughters and a baby on the way. Ba (the dad) calls his daughters his three clouds. May, Gemma and Peony they live in Chinatown. The city council is trying to bulldoze Chinatown to put in Union Station. Ba is diagnosed with tuberculosis and is sent down south to a hospital for treatment. When May and Gemma go to the horse barn to arrange their flowers they find a massive amount of flies and start to investigate. They find the dead body of famous Chinese actress Lulu Wong. May's friend and former classmate. The girls decide to do their own investigation because the police are corrupt.

This book was so good and eye opening to the struggles of Chinese American families in the early 1900's. I loved following the clues with Gemma and May. I had no idea whodunnit in the end. I really enjoyed this book and love everything the author writes.

I really enjoyed this book. Coming from an Asian heritage, a lot of aspects of this book struck deep within me. I enjoyed the characters and their growth throughout the book.

this is probably my favorite mystery i’ve read in such a long time! i’ve also learned a lot of chinese culture while reading which was a lot of fun! i cannot wait to pick up a physical copy of this book when it releases!

Stacey Lee is a master at historical fiction. Her ability to envelope the reader into her written world is unmistakable. Kill Her Twice is no exception. It's another standout book from Lee.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This was a DNF for me. The writing wasn't bad, and I may return to it at some point, but I found the tone to be too light for a book about murder and racism. I wanted more grit and darkness and this was almost fluffy.