Review of 'Dead Girls Don't Lie'
By Jennifer Shaw Wolf, 2013, Bloomsbury Publishing
Mystery, Thriller
Rating: 👻👻👻1/2 (3.5 out of 4 boos)
“Jaycee and Rachel were best friends. But that was before. . .before that terrible night at the old house. Before Rachel shut Jaycee out. Before Jaycee chose Skyler over Rachel. Then Rachel is found dead. The police blame a growing gang problem in their small town, but Jaycee is sure it has to do with that night at the old house. Rachel’s text is the first clue—starting Jaycee on a search that leads to a shocking secret. Rachel’s death was no random crime, and Jaycee must figure out who to trust before she can expose the truth.”
What’s the main character like?
Jaycee drives me a little crazy. She’s very naive, causing her to make questionable choice after questionable choice. But her innocence is believable: she’s a small-town girl with a strict father, and she wants to see the good in people. Plus, the plot would not exist without this character flaw.
How scary is it?
I enjoyed the thrill of Jaycee’s bad choices constantly putting her in danger. The book got my heart racing every time I thought she wasn’t going to get out of a situation, but it wasn’t scary in the strictest sense. There are some mature themes surrounding violence and sex, but not in an over-the-top way.
Who might like this book?
From taking place in a forested small town to starting off with the death of a teen girl who left clues behind, Dead Girls Don’t Lie reeks of Twin Peaks drama. In a good way. Also, I’m pretty sure I found this book on an “If you liked Pretty Little Liars…” list, which makes sense for the same reasons that Dead Girls Don't Lie is like Twin Peaks. Which means it’s also like Riverdale. Gotta love the “small-town teens solving crimes” motif.
What did I like best?
I’m a fan of the disturbing small-town setting where people can’t be trusted and where teens get thrown into a mystery. The author masterfully keeps things feeling small while also making you second-guess your hunches, even though the suspect list is inherently short.
What wasn’t my favorite?
The teen romance aspect. It was somewhat over-the-top (as it was in Twin Peaks at times). But it added to the plot and Jaycee’s characterization, so I feel it was necessary.