Their father left home to undergo treatment for tuberculosis, 19-year-old May Chow and her 18-year-old sister, Gemma, took over his flower-selling business in order to support their family. Their family includes 12-year-old Peony and Ma, who’s expecting a fourth child. The country is gripped by economic depression so money is tight. The girls’ meager earnings barely make ends meet. Making matters worse is news of a proposed train station in Chinatown that would make the Chow family to lose their place and be forced to find a new place to live. The city council ignores residents’ concerns and opposition to the station. There is prejudice and discrimination against Chinese Americans. When May and Gemma stumble across Lulu’s body in an abandoned lot in Chinatown, the scandal fuels even more negative feelings toward the neighborhood. Aware that prejudice and police corruption might allow Lulu’s murderer to escape justice, Gemma decides to conduct her own investigation with help from one a sneak May, whose sense of family duty competes with her desire to honor her dear childhood friend Lulu. Will Gemma and May find the killer?

I have read a sneak peek of this novel. The author has written a YA murder mystery set in 1930s Los Angeles's Chinatown. The novel is told through the dual point of views from Gemma and May. The novel is a whodunit murder set in the Chinatown of 1932 LA. I enjoyed the novel with its vibrant cast and abundant historical details.

"Kill Her Twice" by Stacey Lee is an engaging historical mystery set in 1930s Los Angeles, centering on the murder of a Chinese-American film star, Lulu Wong. The story follows the Chow sisters—May, Gemma, and Peony—as they take it upon themselves to unravel the tangled web surrounding Lulu’s death. Lee does an excellent job of immersing readers in the atmosphere of the time, vividly portraying the racial tensions and cultural nuances of Chinatown during this era.

One of the novel’s standout features is the dynamic between the three sisters. May’s cautious and responsible nature contrasts sharply with Gemma’s more reckless tendencies, making their interactions believable and compelling. While the character development is generally well-executed, Peony’s role felt somewhat underexplored, and I would have liked to see more of her personality come through. May’s growth over the course of the novel, however, is especially satisfying to witness.

The mystery itself is intriguing, though I did find that the pacing dragged slightly in the middle. Fortunately, the inclusion of several well-crafted subplots helped to keep things moving. Lee skillfully blends suspense with historical detail, creating a narrative that’s as informative as it is entertaining.

Her descriptive writing paints a rich picture of 1930s Los Angeles, and the depiction of Chinatown is particularly atmospheric. That said, some readers might find the frequent use of period-specific slang a bit overdone, occasionally interrupting the flow of the story.

Overall, "Kill Her Twice" is a compelling read, blending historical insight with a solid mystery and strong character dynamics. Although there are a few areas where it could have been tightened up, the novel’s strengths far outweigh its minor flaws. It’s a great pick for readers who enjoy mysteries with a rich historical backdrop. I would give it a solid four stars.

This was an interesting premise but ultimately was not my personal preference. Thank you
Beat of luck

The synopsis looks very interesting, and the first few chapters show that in the plot. My only worry is that the book will be slow-paced, as right now it is not that fast. However I will be reading the rest of the book, so let's see if my guess on who killed her is right!

i DO recommend i loved all 3 sisters, especially gemma. i felt so bad for lulu tho, if she were still around i would've LOVED her character. also there was a romance plot that didnt get resolved BUT WOULDVE HIT SO HARD. 😭 but maybe next time <3 also cover is saur cool. bottom line: im going to try more stacey lee books!

Such an exciting look into a well-crafted book! Can’t wait to read more about it! Kill Her Twice has great mystery/murder aspects to it. Coupled with the Chinese themes, makes a unique and unputdownable read even in the first few chapters.

This has an interesting plot, and I like it being set in early 1900s Los Angeles. It's your standard modern YA book, hitting all the popular formulas, tropes, and characters. The sneak peek intrigued me to buy the complete bok.

After reading this sneak peak not only am I adding it to my TBR but I'm submitting it to my book club to add to our rotation.

This was not very interesting on its own, to be fair. I will be picking up the full length book either way, because the sinopsis itself sounds good, but this was not very gripping.

It was good but wished it was the whole book and not part of it

There was a good plot and characters from what I could tell.

This has an interesting plot, and I like it being set in early 1900s Los Angeles. It's your standard modern YA book, hitting all the popular formulas, tropes, and characters. If that's your jam, this book will be too.

This intriguing sneek peek left me wanting more! Stacey Lee is obviously a very talented author and knows how to write a gripping story. After reading these first few chapters I am desperate to find out how it's going to end. A truly clever way to hook a reader ;)

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House (Putnam) for access to the e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

ok I need the rest of the book NOW!! even though it's just a sneak peak, these first five chapters have already caught my interest, I can smell a 5 stars 👀

Having read and loved Lee's previous work I was delighted to see this sneak peek and immediately put a hold on the book at my local library once completed. If the rest is as good as this, I won't be disappointed,

To be fair, I'd almost definitely have purchased this book without reading this sneak peak (I love Stacey Lee) but I am hooked on this book and need to everything that comes next! Lee is an exceptional writer and nails the balance for YA between pacing, romance, and historical fiction - I cannot wait to discuss this with my high school students!

Thank you NetGalley for access to this sneak peek ,
It was gripping from the front page and I read it in one sitting , I can’t wait for the full book to be out , I really want to find out who killed Lulu Wong and if Gemma and May would be able to stop the government from building Union station and displacing the people of Chinatown from their homes

Gemma and May are teo sisters living in LA with their mother in poverty.
They have a small flower business in order to make a living. One day, before heading to the market to sell their flowers they discover a dead body in a dirty stable, belonging to their old friend Lulu wong.

Even though this was a 52 page sneak peek I really enjoyed it. The book was thrilling and has 5 stars potential.
Im really excited to read the whole thing soon.

Author Stacey Lee creates a vivid world in Kill Her Twice. 1930's Hollywood and Chinatown were not places that coexisted without tension. Asian actresses were exotic toys to be played with, but not to be taken seriously.. When the Chow sisters see that the police are not taking the death of their friend, a well known actress seriously, they decide that they will investigate her death themselves.
As I only had a sample of the book to review, I cannot give an opinion on the whole plot. From what I was provided, this is sure to be an intriguing story with historical notes and a wonderful narrative voice. I look forward to reading the whole book!

My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the advance sample of this work.

What a great start, I can't wait to read the rest of the novel. It was well written and you could get into the vibe for book.

I'm intrigued to read rest of the book. The 1930's charm and the discrimination against Chinese American people is well portrayed.