Dead Girls Don't Lie

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Author(s)

Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Publisher

Walker Childrens

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

September 17, 2013

ISBN

0802734499

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Rachel died at two a.m . . . Three hours after Skyler kissed me for the first time. Forty-five minutes after she sent me her last text. 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. In the follow-up to her powerful debut, Jennifer Shaw Wolf keeps readers on their toes in another dark, romantic story of murder and secrets.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Creepy Page Turner

December 20, 2013

Overall rating

4.0

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What I Loved:

Ms. Shaw Wolf excels at atmospheric tension, and the sense of impending disaster grows stronger with every chapter, making it difficult to put the book down. The premise is fascinating, and every clue the heroine uncovers leads to more mystery. Soon, the reader isn't sure if *any* of the characters are trustworthy, and the urge to scream at the heroine to just flee for her life is nearly impossible to ignore.

Creating an authentically detailed, fully realized setting is another of Ms. Shaw Wolf's strengths. The sensory detail and attention to setting served to create a vivid, realistic backdrop for the story. I especially loved the multi-cultural aspect to both the story and the setting. As someone who grew up in a town that employed migrant workers and had a vibrant Hispanic presence, every detail rang true for me.

The heroine is a character readers can relate to. She's an average teenage girl focused on the boy she has a crush on, the drama going on in her relationships, and the social hierarchy in town. Everything about her felt authentic, especially when she was thrust into extraordinary circumstances and had to continuously decide if chasing clues that might lead to her former best friend's killer was worth the increasing risk to her own life. This isn't a stock kickass-right-out-of-the-box heroine. This is a girl who is loyal but terrified, curious but naive, courageous but blind.

What Left Me Wanting More:

As much as I was able to connect with the heroine Jaycee, the other characters fell short for me. Especially the romance and a few other key relationships. I understood why those relationships were the way they were, and am fine with the reasons, but I wanted Jaycee to be a bit smarter and more observant than she was. However, I can honestly say that at Jaycee's age, I'd have been no more capable of figuring everyone out than she was.

At times the pacing felt a bit off, and that took away from the building tension, though it should be noted that I still couldn't put the book down.

Final Verdict:

In DEAD GIRLS DON'T LIE, Jennifer Shaw Wolf delivers another atmospheric mystery that will keep readers turning pages long into the night.

CJ Redwine, Site and Staff Manager Top 10 Reviewer 406 reviews

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Like a lemon meringue pie...

May 15, 2016

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Dead Girls Don't Lie offers up a unique blend of sweet, sad, and suspense. Though I was hooked with the opening premise of a girl's death and they typical clue gathering journey that ensued, what really stood out for me was the simple authenticity of the characters. There were people that I could related to, partly because I could see some of my own relationships reflected in them and partly because their motivations were as complex as those in real life. No one was outright evil or bitchy, they were just young folks trying to figure out life. That, however, was also what made the ending realistic but also kind of heart-breaking.