Girls Who Play Dead

Makeup, high school drama, and a murder mystery awaits in the pages of Girls Who Play Dead. The story follows two very different siblings, Kyla and Mikky, who reconnect under tragic circumstances. Desperate to find answers to Erin’s death they put on their detective hats to get to the bottom of the case and ending up finding more that what they bargained for.

While some thrillers have likable characters, this novel follows some complicated characters who all have secrets to hide. The main characters for the most part are unlikeable, which puts the readers on alert. You aren’t sure who exactly to trust and it seems like everyone in this unassuming small town has something to hide.

This novel can best be described as a medium-paced but reads like a slow burn mystery. Its downfall is that it can be repetitive with character interactions/accusations and veers away from the core of the story. These aspects made the story drag in some parts which can cause the reader to lose interest in the puzzles presented before them. I feel like that the novel could be a bit shorter to be more concise.

Washington does craft an interesting plot and what stands out most to me about this novel is the constant aura of suspense the reader is submersed in. Additionally, I think the novel does a great job of discussing the stages of grief and mental health with care. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy small town mysteries.