The new homecoming queen is dead . . . and she's not the first unsolved murder at Seaview High. From the critically acclaimed author of The Ivies comes a nonstop YA thriller about a decades-old mystery, a copycat killer, and the teen who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth. "Utterly savage." –Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of They’ll Never Catch Us "Hand this fast-paced thriller filled with plenty of twists and drama to fans of Holly Jackson or Karen M. McManus." -SLJ A 2023 Edgar Award Nominee! After the death of her mom (screw cancer), seventeen-year-old Cecelia Ellis goes to live with her estranged grandmother, a celebrated author whose Victorian mansion is as creepy as the murder mysteries she writes. On the surface, life is utterly ordinary in the California coastal town . . . until the homecoming queen is murdered. And she’s not Seaview’s first pretty dead queen. With a copycat killer on the loose, Cecelia throws herself into the investigation, determined to crack the case like the heroines in her grandmother’s books. But the more Cecelia digs into the town’s secrets, the more she worries that her own mystery might not have a storybook ending. Gr 9 Up-After the death of her mother, 17-year-old Cecelia Ellis moves to rural Seaview to live with her estranged grandmother, who is a local celebrity for writing murder mysteries. While coming to terms with her grief, Cecelia learns that her grandmother's first book was based on true events: 30 years ago, the homecoming queen was drowned in a pool during the big game. History repeats itself when one of her friends ends up dead in the exact same manner as the original murder. Rumors fly, friendships are tested, and Cecelia throws herself into the investigation, determined to find out the truth about what happened to her friend, and to find out what really happened 30 years ago. The cast is diverse, representing a number of ethnicities and sexual orientations. Teens who have experienced grief will relate to Cecelia, who spends much of the book learning about her mother through the town she grew up in and processing the feelings that come with the death of a parent. Donne creates realistic dialogue and characters that are fully realized with complex histories. There is an underlying romance where two teenagers have sex, but it is written thoughtfully, and nothing is explicit. VERDICT Recommended first purchase for all collections. Hand this fast-paced thriller filled with plenty of twists and drama to fans of Holly Jackson or Karen M. McManus.-Ashley Grilloα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Praise for Pretty Dead Queens : " An intricately plotted whodunit that maintains suspense to the end.” –Kirkus Reviews "Donne sets up an irresistible premise for mystery lovers , blending toxic family legacies, small-town secrets, and true-crime culture into a twisty tale." -Booklist "Perfect for...spooky season." - BuzzFeed "Sharp as a knife and utterly savage, Pretty Dead Queens has an ending that will shock even the most astute mystery buffs ." –Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of They’ll Never Catch Us "Compulsively readable and methodically plotted, Pretty Dead Queens is smart, twisted, and cozy —everything I love in a myster y." – J.Elle, New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Ebony " Twisty, imaginative, and highly addictive, Pretty Dead Queens is Alexa Donne at her devious best. Packed with small-town secrets, family mysteries, and intrigue: be prepared to stay up well past your bedtime." –Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of All Eyes On Her and The Girls Are All So Nice Here " Pretty Dead Queens crackles with wit, romance, and atmosphere! Set in a small town full of big lies and unsolved murders, this fast-paced whodunnit will keep you guessing as Cecelia, a whip-smart teen turned amateur investigator, risks everything to stop the killer and bring justice to the victims. A thriller to die for! " –Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of Lies Like Wildfire and Friends Like These " A brain-bending, twisty tale in a picturesque, coastal town bursting with secrets, lies, and ultimate betrayals. The perfect blend of Hitchcock, Agatha Christie, and Jessica Fletcher —all brought to life with the deftness of Donne’s razor-sharp insight into the dark side of human nature." –Jennieke Cohen, author of My Fine Fellow and Dangerous Alliance "Donne has written a wicked, twisted high school horror-show that will keep you guessing until the very last page." –Brenna Ehrlich, author of Killing Time "A twisted and deliciously messed-up YA thriller with a dead homecoming queen and a copycat killer that will keep you guessing to the end." --Darby Kane, #1 international bestselling author of Pretty Little Wife Alexa Donne is the Edgar Award–nominated author of Pretty Dead Queens, Th