Dead Girls Talking" is a riveting thriller that expertly intertwines a compelling murder mystery with poignant explorations of justice, trauma, and female empowerment. This novel captivates from the very first page, maintaining a relentless pace that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.


The story centers around Bettina, known as Bett, who has lived under the dark shadow of her father's alleged crime—murdering her mother a decade ago. This gruesome event has permeated her life, becoming fodder for podcasts, murder tours, and an eagerly awaited docuseries. However, a series of copycat murders shakes her belief in her father's guilt, prompting her to reconsider the facts. To uncover the truth, Bett teams up with Eugenia, a bookish goth girl and the mortician's daughter, who is just as misunderstood and intriguing as the mysteries they seek to solve. Together, they dive into an investigation that challenges everything Bett thought she knew, revealing a killer alarmingly close to home.

"Dead Girls Talking" delves into significant issues, such as the societal obsession with true crime, the quest for justice, and the simmering anger that can accompany unresolved trauma. Peterson's writing is both sharp and evocative, creating a wire-taut atmosphere that enhances the novel's suspense. Her wicked sense of humor provides a perfect counterbalance to the story's darker elements, making for a truly engaging read.

This novel stands out not only for its thrilling plot but also for its insightful commentary on larger societal issues. It’s gritty and propulsive, with enough twists to keep even the most seasoned mystery readers guessing. Peterson's ability to combine humor with a serious exploration of justice and female rage sets this book apart in the crowded thriller genre.

I would rate "Dead Girls Talking" a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It’s an engrossing and thought-provoking read that effectively combines a gripping mystery with deeper thematic content. Fans of true crime and strong female leads will find much to love in this novel. The slight deduction is only because a few plot points felt a bit predictable, but overall, it’s a standout thriller that I highly recommend.

One of my reading goals for this year was to read more different genres. I never really read mysteries or thrillers, but really wanted to read some more. The only other mystery I read before was the Good Girls Guido to Murder series and I would definitely recommend Dead Girls Talking to fans of GGGTM.

Dead Girls Talking is about Bettina and how her dad allegedly murdered her mom. Everyone is convinced that it was him, until more young girls get murdered the same way, ages after the first death and while he's still in prison. Is a copycat killer on its way, or is Bett's dad back?

It took me some time to get into the story. A lot of the characters got me really frustrated, and it annoyed me a lot that apparently nobody can do their job properly. It was still interesting to read and see how Bett's and Eugenia's friendship developed and how they tried to murder the mystery.

Some scenes felt a bit unnecessary and Bett and Eugenia judged the other people really fast without any real evidence.

The writing was okay and I had a lot of fun reading the story and tying to figure out who the murder was.

I gave the book 3.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House for this EARC!

"Dead Girls Talking" delves into the gripping tale of Bettina's father, who stands accused of her mother's murder, amidst a series of similar killings in Wolf Ridge. The central question looms: Did her father truly commit the crime?

The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of two key characters: Bett, the daughter grappling with her father's alleged actions, and Eugenia, the mortician's daughter. Together, they embark on a quest to unravel the town's unsettling mystery.

One notable drawback of the novel lies in its underdeveloped characters, including the protagonist Bett, who feels disappointingly one-dimensional. In a genre reliant on nuanced characterizations to drive suspense, this limitation detracts from the believability of potential plot twists.

Similarly, the execution of plot twists falls short, with theories presented in a cursory manner lacking depth and substantiation. This weakens the impact of the narrative's pivotal moments, relying too heavily on blind trust rather than credible groundwork.

While comparisons to other works can be divisive, "Dead Girls Talking" seems to echo elements of "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder," raising questions of originality. However, where the novel shines is in its meticulously crafted plot, where every detail serves a purpose, and the pacing remains consistently gripping, delivering a truly unputdownable mystery experience.

In conclusion, while "Dead Girls Talking" may not fully satisfy those seeking complex characters and well-executed plot twists, its meticulously plotted narrative and brisk pacing still make it a worthwhile read for mystery enthusiasts.

Everybody needs a Eugenia in their life 🩵

Holy shit, what was that? This book kept me guessing until the end. The author did an amazing job with this story and the development of the characters. I was so frustrated with that chief of police (Bigsby) 😭 I didn’t saw that plottwist coming and didnt expect to be so invested in this story.
This book reminded me why I love reading mystery/thriller books! I’m really excited to read more by this author, this book deserves all the hype!!
Thank you Netgalley and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel + Ink for this arc and for reminding me why I love this genre so much 🫶🏻

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! I was looking forward to reading this book and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The characters were fun and well-rounded and I loved the storyline! I would recommend this for any thriller/true crime fans!

I PRIDE myself in knowing/ being able to predict the endings of the mystery and or thriller books I read and Dead Girls Talking TOOK ME OUT.

It had me so strong in my wrong about who was responsible for the deaths in the story. I’m telling you, when you think you’ve got it figured out, you don’t. I love love LOVED this book and I’m already excited to re-read it to see what clues I missed. I also hope there might be a sequel in the future…

Perfect for readers who enjoy YA fiction and fans of Frieda McFadden and Noelle W. Ihli

Dead Girls Talking is scheduled for release June 18th, 2024 and will be a physical must buy for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a really fast-paced and interesting mystery book. While I was suspicious, I couldn't guess the ending and that is always a plus for me! The writing was good and I really liked the main character and the other key characters as well. Overall, the mystery pulled me in and I enjoyed the investigation.

I really recommend this to YA mystery lovers looking for a quick and fun read!

★ ★ ★ • 3

What first drew me to this book was definitely the cover, but the summary and the sapphic mystery components definitely sounded promising. That said… I unfortunately did not find myself enjoying this book very much.

I didn’t have problems with the storyline itself, but the writing did at times feel overly immature regardless of Dead Girls Talking being a young adult novel. Which then in turn made it hard to like or even care about the events in the plot as well as the characters. In addition to that, the ending was somewhat abrupt and overall underwhelming. I finished the book, but it’s not something I’d reread or recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review!

"Violence seems to be a language all men speak."


perfect YA crime solving novel with a non-glamorizing look at true crime 🙏 it hit all the marks, from stupid teenage behavior to plot progression and ultimately the crime solved, though it was partly pretty predictable. Eugenia was kind of cliché yet the best character of the book, "women help women" 👑


[review posted on goodreads]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital copy.


TRIGGER WARNINGS: violence, domestic abuse, murder, blood, alcohol and drug use by minors.


Bett has been trying to escape the attention her mother's murder by her father has brought upon her all her life, and as the tenth anniversary of Prudence McGrath's death approaches, things can only get worse - she doesn't even have anyone to confide in because she ended her friendship with Natalie when Nat's mother, to save the financial situation of her own bar, decided to create a macabre tour of Prudence's last days and places. According to Lydia, it is to honor Prudie's memory, but for Bett it is only exploitation of her pain.

And then the prosecutor who had handled the trial of her father - who she herself helped send to prison with her testimony at the age of six - commits suicide and her grandparents want her to stay absolutely away from the funeral and the widow. As if that wasn't enough, another body of another girl turns up in town - a girl very similar to Bett's mother, killed in the exact same way and it is Bett who finds her.

But no one in Wolf Ridge seems to take this girl's death seriously - girls and women in general in Wolf Ridge seem to be considered less than zero, as something replaceable at any moment. The only other person who takes the matter to heart is Eugenia Cline, the undertaker's daughter, who proposes to Bett a hunt for the killer - and if this killer is not a copycat, the prospect that the real killer has always been out free confronts Bett with the possibility that her father was always as innocent as he has claimed for the past decade and that's something Bett isn't ready to accept.

The investigations bring Bett and Eugenia closer and closer to danger and the number of bodies increases and perhaps Bett even risks being the next victim...


"Dead Girls Talking" has a good narrative structure and a good pace, which I would have enjoyed more if I hadn't been in reader's block and hadn't had to stop reading for days on end due to work commitments. But even when I couldn't move forward with the story, I kept thinking about it.

Bett has a rich family and this has always bothered others, although she has never abused her privileges and above all she has never asked for it. She lives in a bubble created by her overprotective grandparents, not only because of what happened to her mother but precisely because they want to prevent Bett from ruining her future by finding herself a "poor guy" like Prudence had done with Trapper. I admit that I therefore despised Bett's grandparents a lot, always snotty with everyone who doesn't belong to the same social class as them and several times they made me suspect that they were hiding something that they didn't want Bett to know.

The novel, however, focuses a lot on the aspect of friendship and female solidarity, on how women should support and protect each other - be there for each other and form a common front in the face of a mentality that sees them only as a body of to dispose of as you wish.

Bett and Eugenia examine several suspects, but in fact no one stands out more than the others - and Trapper may or may not be innocent, but we know for sure from Bett's memories and the testimonies of others that his marriage to Prudence was not a bed of roses, that they argued a lot and that he was also violent.

The discovery of the murderer is quite surprising, but when you then look back and put the pieces together, you realize that many things were right under our noses. But the ending isn't all roses either because justice is never perfect and Bett and Eugenia have proof that you can invoke all the female solidarity you want, but revenge and jealousy and psychological manipulation will always get the better of common sense. The real serial killer will be put behind bars, but it's not the perfect ending that all the victims in this story deserved - and we have plenty of lives ruined whether permanently or not here.

"Dead Girls Talking" is not a novel that focuses so much on wanting to scare the reader with plot twists, but rather wants to make him reflect on what lies behind and at the basis of every relationship and how easy it is to be manipulated and used by someone else who only looks after their own interests, not caring about everything and everyone and any consequences.

I am not fully sure how to rate this book, I enjoyed it but it wasn't ground breaking.

The name of the book made me think there was probably something supernatural going on but there where not literally Dead Girls that were talking.

The intimate scenes with Xavier feels like they were just put in because...every book these days has got them 'so this book should too'. I wish the author did a little more with his character. 

In the beginning the main character does suffer from 'I'm not like other girls' but she does have some character development and learns to appreciate the people close to her.

Overal a good book! Would definitely recommend this to people.

This poor girl is forced to visit her father in prison twice a year even though he murdered her mother. So she is jaded. Ten years after the murder other similar murders tart happening in town. She makes it a point to solve these murders.
I loved and hated the main character. I got her but also found her annoying. I was rooting for her.

TL:DR - I read it on one day, great characters, some hysterical one-liners, and a heroine you'll root for until the bitter end.

Bett's whole life has revolved around her mother's murder. She can't escape from the would-be podcasters, true crime aficionados, and murder fans who want to hear all the sordid details about Bett's relationship with her mother's killer--her own father, Trapper McGrath. Locked up for a decade, her father has steadfastly maintained his innocence, not that Bett believes a word of it. After all, it was her own eyewitness account (at the age of six) that put him behind bars.

But now, on the anniversary of her mother's murder, a new series of deaths kicks off. Not long after the ADA who convicted Trapper commits suicide, it's Bett herself who finds a dead body in the woods--a woman who looks eerily like her mother and bears all the same post-mortem injuries. As the town panics over the potential that Trapper is innocent and, worse, there's a serial killer on the loose, Bett's already tumultuous world is turned even further upside down as she tries to discover the truth about her family.

Honestly, I could not put this book down. Bett is a great character, with ugly mood swings, pent-up frustration, and deep flaws. The town of Wolf Ridge, NC is its own character, with southern charm and gorgeously described visuals. Bett is so sure that her father is guilty at the beginning, and we follow her on her journey to the truth.

I'm hoping for a sequel featuring Eugenia, the mortician's daughter and best friend who reminds me of Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice in the best possible way. 5/5 fun read.

ARC REVIEW
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC of Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson!

I can honestly say that this is the first book in a really long time that I was able to sit down and finish in a single day. I personally LOVE a fast-paced horror or thriller, it keeps me way more engaged than a slow burn and this completely hit the mark!

Bettina and Eugenia made great protagonists and even better (if not unlikely) friends. I really enjoyed the way we got to see the flip on true crime and witness the effects it has on the victims’ relatives rather than the usual true crime podcasters. Bettina is everything I would expect on a traumatized girl who has gone through way more than a person should ever have to go through, yet I still found her to be a nice girl who was just trying her best with how messed up her life has been for the last 10 years.

No spoilers from me, but I will say that I’m usually pretty quick to figure out plot twists and big reveals but Dead Girls Talking got me big time with the reveal and it was so refreshing to actually be surprised.

I’m very excited to get myself into more Megan Cooley Peterson books, but for now, check out Dead Girls Talking when it comes out on June 18th, 2024!

Dead girls talking by Megan Cooley Peterson - review

2.25 ⭐️

First of all, thank you very much to Netgalley and Holiday House, for providing me with an e-arc in anticipation of the release in return for a honest review.

The cover, title and premise looked very cool and promissing to me. I was therefore quite excited to start this book. Unfortunately the book was a bit disappointing, I thought there maybe would be some sapphic crime solving, and discussion on the ethics of creation and consumption of true crime content, but these expectations where not met unfortunately.

The plot was still quite interesting and grabbing. But unfortunately the character development lacked a bit. I felt the relationships were a bit meaningless.

You really noticed that the book was a YA in the writing. There is such an emphasis on Bett being the daughter of a murderer, and being bullied, while I think in real life that would not happen. I think the book lacked a bit in empathy in that part. Further I also think it was a bit weird for a teenager to ride in a Roll's Royce, and this was also said a lot of times. Such an emphasis on describing the environment, outfits and appaerances. Also the constant comparing in poor vs rich, it got a bit annoying.

Further I do get that the teens are trying to solve this murder and that is the whole plot, but the incompentancy of the police is just unrealistic.

Eventhough the book is mainly plot-driven, I would have loved to see some more character development and defining characteristics. Bett's personality seems a bit bland, and she has no other characteristics besides that she is the daughter of a murderer, and that her mom was murdered. It is said she doesn't want to be a lawyer, but an actress but no explaination, making it a bit meaningless.

The friendships and relationships also seem to be formed a bit weird. Like they end really sudden or form just out of the blue. I hoped to maybe see a saphic relationship forming between Eugenia and Bett, but unfortunaly, this didn't happen.

I also think it is a bit odd that Bett is really angry about others looking into her moms murder and being interested, while she is doing the same trying to solve it. I think it would be an amazing opening to discuss the ethics surrounding true crime documentaries and how this influences the lives of the friends and family. Unfortunately, this didn't happen.

Overall, the book was a bit mediocre. I hoped it would be a great new "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder", but unfortunately it did not meet the expectations.
I do think if you want a fast paced YA thriller, that is mainly plot-driven, than try this one, if you want more character development and background, this is not the book for you.

Dead girls talking will be released June 18th.

"The town of Wolf Ridge calls him The Smiley Face Killer. Bettina Holland calls him her father.
Everyone knows Bettina’s father was the one who murdered her mother a decade ago. It’s the subject of podcasts, murder tours, and even a highly anticipated docuseries. But after growing up grappling with what that means, a string of copycat murders forces Bett to answer a harder What if he didn’t ?"

This book was a 3.75 star read for me.

Things I enjoyed
-The main theme of the book did keep me on the edge of my seat. I wanted to keep reading to discover the truth. There were some twists and turns throughout the narrative that kept me going back for more. My final theory developed just a few pages before the big reveal and I was right :)
-The book was written pretty well and had a nice flow. I did not feel there was a lot of filler info that some authors seem to use as a writing technique. Most of the information that was revealed was relevant to the story.

Things I had issues with
-Bett was somewhat underdeveloped as a main character. I know that this is a YA book but at times she came across as very juvenile, flat and egocentric. I found myself having difficulty relating to her as the main protagonist of the book. I actually felt myself being drawn to the character of Eugenia. She was such a well developed character and she really had main character energy. She was a bad ass.

If you like books with the same theme as "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" you will most likely be interested in this book.

I received a copy of this arc from Net Galley for my honest review.

Growing up in the small town of Wolf Ridge, North Carolina, daughter of the “Smiley Face Killer” Bettina Holland was always the subject of murder podcasts, murder tours, and even an upcoming docuseries. But ten years after her father’s conviction, a copycat serial killer suddenly starts recreating the string of murders, making Bettina question the truth: did Trapper McGrath really kill his wife? As she goes to investigate alongside “goth kid” Eugenia Cline, they soon uncover the secrets buried by everyone close to her, and maybe the fact that the killer has always been watching her.

This story certainly had potential to be a really good thriller, if not for the fact that it was vaguely underdeveloped in terms of characterization, especially Bette’s dynamic with Eugenia, considering both of them were likely main characters. The execution also lacked in thrill and build-up which led to an anticlimactic conclusion. The ending was underwhelming, and I feel that some of the issues could have been addressed in the epilogue. However, I didn’t read this with the lights off so I would still recommend this book.

Also, I wish there was actually a TW that Bette would throw up a LOT because it actually made me nauseous. Other CWs include Domestic/Physical and Emotional Abuse, Vomit, & Panic Attacks/Disorders

Bettina gives a statement in order to support the conviction of her father—the Smiley Faced Killer—for the childhood murder of her mother. She discovers a body in the woods ten years later that has the same engravings as her mother's. She now questions if she was mistaken about her father and he is truly innocent as he has always maintained, or if this is a case of copycat murder. A real murder mystery for young adults. The book's investigative premise appeals to me, and its condensed chapters entice readers to read on. I found it to be an easy read that held my interest to the very end.

One thing my students are ALWAYS asking for is thriller, crime, and horror novels. This one caught my eye, and after reading I think this will be one of their new favorites! This was SO good! I read it in a few hours because I had to know how it ended. Totally a sitting on the edge of your chair kinda book!

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75 Stars

Sadly, this book was just not for me.

I usually love anything true crime related and I did really like the storyline for Dead Girls Talking but the lack of characters with any kind of depth or likeable qualities made this a hard read.

I would also like to note that while I to do read YA and middle grade books occasionally, I feel that If I were to have read these books when I was in that age bracket I probably would have loved this.

I will still definitely be keeping my eyes out for any future Megan Cooley Peterson titles!