3.75 stars.. ✨️

I really enjoyed Megan's writing. The storyline was well thought out, and the twist was really good. I loved the characters, the small town Stars Hollow-esque vibe, the Wednesday and Enid relationship between Eugenia and Bett. And for the Scream fangirl in me the way Bettina reminded me so much of Sydney Prescott, stuck in a town full of people who look at her as the murdered woman's daughter, rather than who she really is.

It had all the makings for a 5 star read, but their were just a couple of things that felt a little flat. It almost felt like the first in a series/duology. If it were (or is?), I probably could have understood why a couple of things weren't left expanded.

• I was actually enjoying the little romance side plot with Xavier, and I feel it had all the makings for a cute little relationship, but then he's just going to military school? 🙄 weird... he really seemed to like her?! Like could they not have cleared the air, and how protective he was of her he wouldn't have left her in such a bad way at the party?
• the ending - I felt like it was as if it was leaving it open for another book? Otherwise, why not have an epilogue further in the future... her dad could have ended up killing someone or making some form of mistake, and the epilogue could have been to prove the type of man he was.

I'm just hoping 🙏 that maybe their is another book coming, as honestly I'd love to know what happens next in the girls lives, and all the other characters in Wolf Creek. The undercurrent of feminism, the struggles that all young girls go through, the late 90s/early 00s feels it gave me. It was like all of my favorite movies and series from when I was a teen in a lovely little upper YA moody murder mystery package. Perfect for the upcoming autumn season 👏

So here's me manifesting another book from Megan, as it seems I NEED to know what happens in Wolf Creek, I'm not reading to leave this characters 😂

Rounded from 3.5 stars

Thank you to Holiday House and Netgalley for the review copy, all opinions are my own.

In Dead Girls Talking, we follow Bett Holland and her new friend Eugenia as they try to solve the mystery of who is killing girls in their sleepy town. The Smiley Face Killer, as they are known, targets girls and leaves a smile carved into their faces. 10 years after Bett's mother was killed, girls start dying again and Bett teams up with the mortician's daughter to try and figure out what is going on.

I felt like sometimes things just happened, without reason as far as the characters go. Like, I know teenagers act up but they have feelings that explain it and those feelings weren't explored very well. Also, based off how the characters were built up throughout the novel, I have a hard time believeing the epilogue. Bett and Eugenia wouldn't just "live their lives" based off how the novel went.

This was really solid. The pacing is good and the characters are well developed. I enjoyed it beginning to end. Special Thank You to Megan Cooley Peterson, Abrams Kids and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was pretty good. An interesting take on a serial killer book. I don't know how to make this review 100 characters long, I don't really have much more to say about it unfortunately. It was a quick and easy read.

"The town of Wolf Ridge calls him The Smiley Face Killer. Bettina Holland calls him her father."

Thank you to Netgalley in addition to the author for letting read & review this advanced copy. If you loved a good girl’s guide to murder book series by Holly Jackson you will absolutely love this book Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson that releases Tuesday June 18th 2024. This novel follows the character Bettina; her father is known as the smiley face killer who murdered her mother about ten years ago. A decade later the case comes back around to present time when it seems like their is a copy cat killer, or in Bettinas present mind was her father really guilty or has he been innocent this whole time.. This was a great four star young adult mystery/ thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat that kept me guessing what would happen next.

This was almost a DNF and I wish I would have thrown in the towel. The story just seemed clumsy and unrealistic. The characters were not very likeable to the point I didn't really care what happened to them. There were so many details and story points that were never explained. Over all not a fan.

The town of Wolf Ridge calls him The Smiley Face Killer. Bettina Holland calls him her father.

This was fine. Nothing groundbreaking, but a relatively enjoyable read. I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it, but I also wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading it.

3.75 stars

Bettina is the daughter of her small towns worst nightmare, the Smiley Face Killer. But a decade later with her father still in jail for killing her mother another girl turns up dead. It seems there is a copycat killer. To try and get to the bottom of all the things that aren't adding up, Bettina teams up with the local "weird girl" and morticians daughter, Eugenia. Together they work to try and solve the mystery of who is behind the recent killings.

I thought this was such a fun, well-paced read that had me hooked from the get go. I particularly enjoyed Eugenia's character and the friendship that they built throughout the story. There's just something about a girl who doesn't seem to fit in but absolutely owns it that I love, the towns very own resident "Wednesday Addams".

While I enjoyed the mysteries, leads and working out who I suspected, I did find the ending ever so slightly rushed. However in saying this I don't think it takes away from the other aspects of the book that I enjoyed.

I will definitely be recommending this to readers who enjoy both thrillers and mysteries and fans of Karen M. McManus, Nita Tyndall and Criminal Minds.

3 Stars ~

Bettina is the daughter of a convicted murderer. Trapper killed his own wife, Bettina’s mother while Bettina was still a child in their family home.

But years later Bettina was visiting her mother’s grave, when she took a shortcut through the woods and found a young women’s body who eerily resembled her mother and was killed in the same manner. Trapper is still in prison, and Bettina wants to know who killed this woman and is questioning if her dad did actually kill her mother.

Dead Girls Talking really engages with the teenage sleuth trope, with Bettina teaming up with an unlikely companion to get to the bottom of the murder.

I enjoyed this one, but it just had the severe unrealistic vibes with serious illegal events happening, which I feel gave me a bit of the ick.


Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House for this ARC of Dead Girls Talking. I really liked the cover and the title at first glance, I am so glad I wanted and was able to read this book. The town of Wolf Ridge has a local serial killer that struck in 2009, Rich and other wise blessed Bettina Holland knows the killer firsthand, as he is her father, one of the victims was Bettina's mother, her testimony helped put him away as she stated she saw the back e head walking out of the door that day.

Flash forward to present day and high school senior Bettina is living with her well off and established grandparents on her mother's side. One day a woman is killed in the same manner at Bettina's mother with a cut on her forehead saying, "I'm back''

This starts off a thought of could her father possibly not be the killer? She finds aide in loner daughter of the local morticians Eugenia who drives a hearse to school and has a thirst for true crime anything. Whoa, Peterson really knows how to spin a tale! I loved, loved, Loved the big reveal in this. Bravo actually!

Refreshing to see it turn in such a way and is not the usual kind of reveal that is so overly used in these kinds of books. Seriously read this book in three days, could have been one day if I had not had to go to work! Had me wrapped constantly, amazing summer/pool read.

This was a lot of fun! It was twisty, spooky, and I really liked the characters. I think it was a little over-descriptive in its writing, but I still had a really fun time reading it.

I had a great time with this one! It was a really fast paced, mystery book. I didn’t guess the ending at all which is also a major plus for me.

I really enjoyed the main character Bett & Eugenia’s character was great, their friendship was lovely to see develop.

I did find the middle a little slow & there was also a LOT of emphasis on appearances, outfits & environments ect - it just got a little “do I care?”.

Also I absolutely HATED Wells, which I know we are meant to but EW.

Overall I had a fun time, super quick read.

The true crime vibes is this book are completely off the chart!! I loved the dynamic between Bett and Eugenia. They're messy, and gritty, and angry in all the best ways. The tension is top-notch! And it was also giving me Riverdale vibes in the sense that you "think" you know the people in town, but there's this constant dark undercurrent of 'do you really?' which I absolutely loved. And the plot twist was soooo gooood!

This book was full of interesting plot twists and we were hooked for the journey. The characters were developed and the backstory for each girl was a great addition.

I was immediately attracted to this book when I saw the cover. The title didn't hurt either. The story was just OK for me. It felt like it jumped around a lot. One moment the main character is talking about losing her virginity and then it's a non point, life goes on, so why was it necessary? I thought it would go somewhere, I thought the love interest would matter more. The main character was a brat and I couldn't tell if she was going to change or if that was some sort of point. It's never addressed, not really, so you kind of suffer through it. Me-me-me. She does something bad, her grandfather gets mad, but then she goes out for breakfast the next day. Even when she loses her car, she gets it back. It felt weird to me that her grandparents were so strict but she never actually got in trouble. Eugenia was fun to read about but I'm not sure I could stand her in real life. I will say though that the friendship does develop. Bett did seem to learn a bit about caring more for others at the end. Maybe. I guess the characters felt kind of flat. What was the point of Xavier? Why was Bett such a spoiled brat for no reason? There were several plot points that seemed to go nowhere so they felt undeveloped. It wasn't a tough read, at least, and I had no problem getting through it. I think there's potential but this wasn't my favorite.

Mysteries and thrillers are dominating the YA sphere and trending now, and Dead Girls Talking is the perfect entry into this category of devour-in-one-sitting worthy books. No doubt that libraries serving young adult populations will see this title circulating with great success.

"Dead Girls Talking" by Megan Cooley Peterson is a gripping thriller that delves into the heart of a small town haunted by the past and terrorized by new horrors. Wolf Ridge is notorious for the chilling legacy of the Smiley Face Killer, a moniker given to Bettina Holland's father, who was infamously convicted of her mother's murder a decade ago. This dark history has cast a long shadow over Bettina, known to the town's residents and true crime aficionados as the "true crime princess."

Bettina's life, already complicated by her father's notoriety, is thrown into further turmoil when a series of copycat murders begins to unravel the truth she thought she knew. The question that haunts her is no longer about accepting her father's guilt but confronting the unsettling possibility of his innocence. This narrative twist is the heart of Peterson's tale, making for an exhilarating and emotionally charged read.

Teaming up with the enigmatic Eugenia, the mortician's daughter with a penchant for the macabre, Bettina dives into an investigation that challenges her perceptions and tests her resolve. Eugenia, with her gothic sensibilities and intimate knowledge of death, is the perfect foil to Bettina's old-money upbringing and public persona. Their unlikely partnership brings a dynamic energy to the story, as they navigate through lies, secrets, and the ever-present threat of the new killer.

Peterson's writing is both gritty and evocative, pulling readers into a vividly depicted world where danger lurks around every corner. The atmosphere is palpably tense, maintaining a wire-taut suspense that keeps the pages turning. The author's deft use of humor provides necessary relief without undercutting the story's serious themes of justice, transparency, and the anger that drives women to seek the truth in a world that often silences them.

"Dead Girls Talking" is a standout in the thriller genre, thanks to Peterson's sharp prose and well-crafted characters. Bettina and Eugenia's journey is not just a quest to unmask a killer but also a poignant exploration of identity, legacy, and the power of reclaiming one's narrative. This novel will particularly resonate with readers who appreciate strong female leads who aren't afraid to confront darkness, both external and internal.

In summary, Megan Cooley Peterson delivers a powerful and engaging thriller in "Dead Girls Talking." It's a story that cuts deep, offering not just thrills but also a thoughtful commentary on the complexities of truth and the fierce drive for justice. A must-read for fans of crime fiction who enjoy a blend of psychological depth and relentless suspense.

I was so excited to start Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson!
An intriguing YA mystery/thriller that hooked me immediately.
I thought the story was fabulous, filled with unexpected twists and turns. The characters were great and I loved getting to know them.
A gripping and compelling page turner from start to finish and I loved every single minute it!

Thank You NetGalley and Holiday House for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Megan Cooley Peterson wrote quite the true crime takedown with this intriguing and suspenseful thriller. I was captured by the unlikability of the MC and the cold blooded ending was an unexpected delight. This work really fought against the usual YA experience. I was thoroughly impressed by the author.

Thank you to Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This was a really good, quick investigative read. For my students it’s perfect with not to long chapters and fast placed flow. I know the exact requests I am going to request this to when they come back in the fall!