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!

digital arc was provided by Netgalley and Holiday House

Quite fun but it took too long too get onto something.

Synopsis
Bettina's father murdered her mother, or so Bettina and the whole town believed. However, ten years later, murders similar to what happened to her mother re-occured and Bettina entertained the idea of a serial killer who wasn't her father with the help of the school's outcast, Eugenia.

What I like
Honestly, didn't think that I was gonna like it like this. Bettina herself as a character is unlikeable so, surprise! However infuriating Bettina was, I still cared about her and her mental well-being, because (view spoiler) would do wonder for a high schooler. Euginia stole the show and I was glad she could be Bet's new bestie. The combination of Bet's stubbornness and Euginia's no-nonsense personalities clashed a lot, but also, completed eo.
The writing was easy to read, so I expect more in the future for Peterson.
Now, the ending. I don't know if I like it or not, heh. I could be persuaded though.

What I don't like
Let me list a bit:
- Bettina's grandparents were strict, but there were times (many of them, in fact) that Bettina could go unpunished. Once she was grounded nearing the end, but she could sneak out a lot and it was kinda giving 'huh' moments,
- some chapters felt disjointed with the previous ones, as well as the timeline,
- for almost 80% I was ping pong-ed between murders (not a lot happened) and Bettina's inner struggles, their investigation was quick and often fruitless. While I knew it could establish some red herrings, I felt like I was going nowhere before Bet and Euginia finally zeroed on someone, did something, and accidentally finding the killer,
- listen, I like me some twist, but the killer was unpredictable that it felt like Peterson pulled them out of thin air.

Final thoughts
Way better than some books in similar genre that I could request on Netgalley and I'm interested in checking Peterson's other books.

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

Dead Girls Talking follows Bettina, the daughter of a terrible tragedy. When she was six, her father murdered her mother when she was in the other room. She testified against her father and has had to live with vultures coming after her for podcast, murder tours, and docuseries interviews. She’s always believed her father was guilty … until a string of copycat murders force her to question her belief. Bett teams up with the mortician’s daughter, Eugenia, to uncover the truth about who really killed Bett’s mother and who is killing women again in their town.

If you’re looking for a new YA mystery with a creepy serial killer and angry girls, look no further! This was such a good mystery with the biggest twist at the end—I did not, at all, see it coming. Still shocked and reeling! Such a good twist!!

The vibes in this book are so good. I love seeing teen girls investigating, especially with such a tense atmosphere, and danger around every corner. And it was such a frustrating town that really operates on old money, status, and gender. It’s a super gripping, gritty story that will keep you guessing.

I really enjoyed Bett’s character. She’s gone through so much in her life and her current state—a bit messy, and definitely angry—felt very realistic to her past trauma. I loved that even though she lost friends, she found a true friend in Eugenia. They were so good together! I loved the progression of their friendship and thought they had such good chemistry. Bett’s family was SO frustrating, but I can definitely see where her grandparents are coming from and why they’re super protective.

Overall, a really great mystery with an explosive ending and an amazing female friendship/investigating duo!

It’s been a little bit since I got into a good thriller and Dead Girls Talking did not disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and I was constantly trying to figure out who the serial killer could be, usually I can figure it out before the book gets there but I could not figure it out and it kept me on the edge of my seat.

✨I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.✨

Bettina’s father Trapper is known as the “Smiley Face Killer” for killing her mother Prudence, and another woman, when Bettina was only six years old. Since that time, Bettina has spent her whole life hating her father and having to reluctantly visit him every 6 months in prison. When all of a sudden, on the ten year anniversary of the arrest, more women start to show up up dead the exact same way that her mother died, only then does she start to question her father’s innocence or if this is just a copycat killer. She teams up with the local “weird girl”, who is the morticians daughter, to help solve the murders.

A string of gruesome murders shakes the small town of Wolf Ridge in Dead Girls Talking, a propulsive, page-turning thriller perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. With a Wednesday-esque friend duo and the television show’s iconic dark humor, tight prose, and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end, this story is a must-read. Excited to read more from Megan in the future!

Thank you to Holiday House and NetGalley for providing me with this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review! Opinions are my own :)

➼ ★★★ stars

*a YA story that emulates the aesthetics / vibes of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Wednesday.

a string of brutal murders, a potentially wrongfully convicted man, a small town, and in the thick of it all - a teenage girl who is in desperate need of answers…

Bettina, along with the rest of the town of Wolf Ridge, are convinced they’ve put the *right* guy behind bars for the brutal murder of Prudence Holland. The town of Wolf Ridge calls him ‘The Smiley Face Killer’. Bettina Holland calls him father. However, now that a new victim has been found on the tenth anniversary of Prudence’s death, which is eerily reminiscent of her father’s handiwork, the age-old question arises…could he have been innocent all along?

“you ain’t your daddy’s sins, understand me?”

Our main character, Bett, has been labelled as The Smiley Face Killer’s flesh and blood, the daughter of a murderer, and so much more. This story definitely highlights this as one of the main issues for our MC. So, as you can imagine, it wasn’t too hard to sympathise with Bett. She is a teenage girl going through high school in a small town with a reputation that has stuck for a decade. Bett isn’t a complex character either, and she definitely pissed me off throughout the story, but then again, my sympathy towards her character made me feel for her too - I mean, her mother was murdered by her father, so…

“I think this is the first time I’ve ever seen Eugenia Cline smile. And I’m not sure I like it.”

EUGENIA CLINE. This is my girl!!!! From the moment she was introduced into the story, I knew she would be my favourite character. It’s safe to say that Eugenia is definitely why this book isn’t rated 2 stars because she saved this story for me. Her vibe and energy reminded me a little bit of Wednesday Addams, and that was enough for me, lol. She isn’t even our MC, but she really steals the spotlight (in a good way) from Bett. Eugenia is the daughter of the town’s morticians, so it’s not surprising that she is immediately dubbed the ‘emo, goth girl’ who is a complete loner with no friends (well, maybe except her best friend: death). But, when you peel back the layers, Eugenia is down-to-earth, funny, blunt, ambitious, determined, and one LOYAL ASS GIRL. She sticks by Bett’s side even when she drags her name in the mud, embarrasses her in front of the whole class, and so much more. I could go on and on about Eugenia, but if anything, she was my utmost favourite character, and I love love loved her!!

“but eventually, Cherry’s death just…faded away, became another story, and everyone carried on like normal again.”

The discussion surrounding the exploitation of true-crime stories was an aspect I was glad to have been included in this story. These victims go through cruel, cold-blooded, and vicious acts of crime that should never be diminished to just an opportunity to gain popularity, fame, or money. These are real people who went through very real things.

“The wheels of justice move slow, bug, and they often don’t move at all for people like me”.

This quote from Trapper irked me because what do you mean? Even though he comes from a lower-class family, he is a white male at the end of the day. So, to say that the wheels of justice move slowly for him felt kind of comedic because we live in a system that was built by people like him and for people like him. Also, I don’t know why, but the way the author writes about how things would be hard for people like Bett or Trapper - it made me think she was a POC for the majority the story, like what??? 😭

Ok, let me get one thing straight. THE MEN IN THIS STORY ARE DISGOSTING. They are actually the most annoying, arrogant, selfish pricks ever (except for bestie Leo!). Bett’s granddad, Wells, is just your typical old-money white man boomer. Pissed me off most of the damn time. Bigsby is the town’s sheriff, and he is a loser too. Also, the fact that a good handful of these men were abusive towards their wives?? They ain’t shiiiii!!!

“Hey, Eugenia? Bett? You’re my best friend. You know that, right? She grins. And you’re mine.”

naw, the duo of the story!! their friendship, although rocky, was sweet. The love that they both developed for each other was youthful, sweet, and endearing. Even after all of the crazy crap they went through, they both made it out in the end - together.

!! SPOILER QUOTE BELOW !!

*“He used women to hurt women and got away with it. Just like that. Just like they always do”.*

The moral of the story is men ain’t shxt, and women who fall into the grasp of the wrong men will never come out the same again.

final notes:

the story was good, but that’s it - nothing too wild, magnificent, or special. The story read more juvenile than what I would consider to be fit for a YA novel (and I read a lot of YA novels lol). I wish the girls had delved deeper into each storyline/theory, but it’s still okay! However, it did have me writing up notes trying to figure out the mystery alongside Bett and Eugenia, which was fun! I also read this really quickly, so it’s a great read if you want something quick and easy but with a bit of substance :)

I enjoyed this book. The foreshadowing and red herrings were done well. The characters felt real.

This book also really made me think about the rising interest I'm true crime and the impact this could have on the victims & their families. I found exploring that interesting.

Title: Dead Girls Talking by Megan Cooley Peterson
Publication Date- 06/18/24
Publisher- Holiday
Overall Rating- 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very solid YA mystery. At started to write out the synopsis but go read the one from the publisher and come back to this review. Okay… now first off, this book achieves exactly what it said it was going to. The synopsis is well written and truly sets readers up for accurate expectations. Overall the writing is fast paced and engaging, I would say you could expect it to feel similar to a popcorn thriller.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere, a funeral home owner's daughter, ghost tours in the time, a lot of commentary on true crime obsession and podcasts. The author kept me interested until the end. I wanted to know what the resolution was and was very satisfied. I will say, the answer to the mystery floated around in my head a time or two but I wouldn’t say I guessed everything correctly.

The characters are fully developed and don’t feel flat. This is a YA novel and the characters acted within age appropriate means. I comment on this because I can’t stand YA mysteries where the characters just act absurd. This was not the case, everything felt cohesive and made sense. Of course because we have teenage amateur sleuth’s we do have suspend some disbelief but I didn’t find that it took me out of the story or was a chore to do.

All around a fast faced, enjoyable, YA mystery. I enjoyed the female friendships, small town atmosphere and pacing of the story. It wasn't too long nor too short and hit just right.

Grab a flashlight— you’ll be staying up late to solve the twisty mystery of the Smiley Face Killer. DEAD GIRLS TALKING will be your next true crime obsession!

It was chilling and angsty and such perfect summer thriller read! I really enjoyed the dark underlying theme too, also cute developing friendship of Eugenia and Bett!

I truly enjoyed this book! I've been in a reading slump forever, and devoured this in two sittings. Bett is an amazing "unlikeable" character, with so much depth that I couldn't help but feel her pain and understand why she is the way she is. Peterson reached into the heart of Bett, and dragged her very soul to the fore in order to bring us into the mind of a girl marred by the specter of her father's evil deeds, and her mother's vicious murder (before her eyes, I might add. That would screw anyone up). Bett is a young woman, screaming inside and lashing out in ways that make her such a real, grounded character. Does she need therapy? Absolutely, LOL. I hope Bett decides to get some in the future. The plot itself was riveting, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. If I were to sum up Dead Girls Talking with one word, it would be "Inspired." Congratulations on a triumph, Megan Cooley Peterson!