When was the last time you read a murder mystery? If it’s been a few months, look no further for your next book! Today, we’re discussing Stacey Lee’s new novel, Kill Her Twice, a YA historical mystery that kept us guessing until the end.
Set in 1930s Los Angeles, Kill Her Twice follows the mystery of Chinese American movie star Lulu Wong’s murder. The sisters who found her, May and Gemma Chow, stop at nothing to find Lulu’s killer. (Even if it means investigating the wealthy and powerful.)
We enjoyed reading Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee, and we know you will, too! Here are three things we love about Kill Her Twice!
Book Overview
Content Warnings: death, murder, violence, racism, sexism
Summary: 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.
The Suspense
What’s a murder mystery without a lot of twists? We got hooked on the story as soon as May and Gemma found Lulu’s body in the stables. Kill Her Twice kept us guessing until the end. As each new piece of information comes to light, so do different motives and suspects. Could it be one of Lulu’s jealous co-stars? Or her greedy manager? Or could it be someone we’d never suspect in Chinatown? Trust us when we say we stayed locked in until the end!
Realistic Sibling Relationships
May, Gemma, and Peony’s sisterhood in Kill Her Twice hit a little too close to home. As the eldest daughter, May is naturally a people pleaser who wouldn’t dare dream of disgracing her family. And Gemma is the daring, extroverted middle sister who takes risks and goes after what she wants. While Peony, the youngest, becomes the lookout and covers for her sisters while they try to solve Lulu’s murder. Each sister plays a unique role in this mystery, and secrets between even the three of them start to pile up.
The Storytelling
Stacey Lee’s Kill Her Twice has dual perspectives: May and Gemma. And these two balance each other’s personalities so well. May tends to be strict and by the book, while Gemma is more free-spirited and spontaneous. It’s clear how much they care for each other, and it feels so satisfying to see their characters develop. As they investigate Lulu’s circle and share their points of view, they must also navigate racial and gender stereotypes of 1930s Los Angeles.
Stacey Lee centers themes of family and community in Kill Her Twice, a rich historical mystery that also tackles prejudice and Asian representation in old Hollywood.
Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee is out on April 23rd, and you can preorder a copy of it here!
What do you think of Stacey Lee’s Kill Her Twice? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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