Author: Stacey Lee
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Book Release Date: 2024
Pages: 400
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: A YA murder mystery noir set in 1930s Los Angeles’s Chinatown, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl.
LOS ANGELES, 1932: Lulu Wong, star of the silver screen and the pride of Chinatown, has a face known to practically everyone, especially the Chow sisters—May, Gemma, and Peony—Lulu’s former classmates and neighbors. So the girls instantly know it’s Lulu when they discover a body one morning in an out-of-the-way stable, far from the Beverly Hills home where she lived after her fame skyrocketed.
The sisters suspect Lulu’s death is the result of foul play, but the police don’t seem motivated to investigate. Even worse, there are signs that point to a cover-up, and powerful forces in the city want to frame the killing as evidence that Chinatown is a den of iniquity and crime, even more reason it should be demolished to make room for the construction of a new railway depot, Union Station.
Worried that neither the police nor the papers will treat Lulu fairly—no matter her fame and wealth—the sisters set out to solve their friend’s murder themselves, and maybe save their neighborhood in the bargain. But with Lulu’s killer still on the loose, the girls’ investigation just might put them square in the crosshairs of a cold-blooded murderer.
My Review: In 1932, the famous movie star Lulu Wong was murdered. However, the police arrested an innocent man for the crime. The Chow sisters—May, Gemma, and Peony— believe that because Lulu Wong was Asian, her case was not handled fairly. They decide to investigate the case to find the real killer. As they investigate, the sisters realize that they are in great danger because the killer knows that they are investigating him and he wants to stop them.
Even though the synopsis named three main characters, there are only two narrators—May and Gemma. Peony is rarely mentioned and does very little investigating in this book. Peony mostly likes playing basketball and reading. She spends most of the time taking care of her pregnant mother. May and Gemma are the ones that do the real investigating. Gemma is very reckless and impulsive, but May is hesitant and reluctant. May thinks more about her family’s reputation and her responsibilities for her family. Therefore, Gemma has more freedom and independence. I found both Gemma and May to be very smart. I also like how they teamed up to solve the mystery. Therefore, they make a very fun team.
Overall, this book is about family, racism, and dreams. The main message of this book is to follow your heart. I liked all the characters. I found them to be very complex and realistic. I did find the book to move at an incredibly slow pace. I also thought that the mystery was drawn out. Nevertheless, I like the setting of 1930s Chinatown. Kill Her Twice was an entertaining cozy historical mystery that is perfect for a lazy afternoon! I recommend this book for fans of June Hur, Joan He, and Sherry Thomas!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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