ARC Review: Pretty Dead Queens by Alexa Donne

Pretty Dead Queens
Author: Alexa Donne
Publication: Crown Books for Young Readers (October 4, 2022)

Description: Seaview High's homecoming queen is dead . . . and she's not the first. From the critically acclaimed author of The Ivies comes a nonstop thriller about a decades-old mystery, a copycat killing, and the teen who won't stop until she discovers the truth.

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.

My Thoughts: Cecelia Ellis has lost her mom to cancer and now finds herself living with her estranged grandmother who happens to be Maura Weston, famous and bestselling mystery author. 

Cecelia has only read one of her grandmother's books, "the one on the boat," but it doesn't take long for her to learn that Maura's first mystery is a retelling of an actual murder that happened in town. Homecoming Queen Caroline was found floating in the school pool shortly after winning her crown. The book was a bestseller, a movie was shot about the story in town, Maura's fans make pilgrimages to see all the sights, and there is an annual MauraCon where her devoted fans come to congregate.

Even though Cecelia is accosted by fans who want to know all about her famous grandmother, her main goal is making a place for herself at the local school, finishing high school, and getting out of town. Cecelia quickly makes friends who are all life-long residents. Even though she doesn't know all the in jokes or the relationships, she's enjoying her new friends. 

But when Natalie, who is a shoo-in for this year's Homecoming Queen, is also found dead and floating in the school's swimming pool, Cecelia feels drawn to investigate. At first, the investigation is a way for her to fill up her mind to cover up her grief for the loss of her mother. But soon, it is the puzzle of it and all the things she learns that keep her going. There are so many parallels with the murder 52 years earlier that Cecelia begins to suspect that the man convicted of the crime might really be innocent. 

Naturally, there is a love interest or two. Ben is her grandmother's writing intern. He's a guy who was once in the in-crowd but a problem with Natalie caused his ouster. He has also recently lost his mother when part of their house fell into the ocean. Since Natalie's father is the mayor and Ben's grandfather is suing him, the breakup is understandable. And there is Gabriel who is handsome, hard-working, and the younger brother of one of her new friends but who has some secrets of his own.

I really enjoyed all of the ways Cecelia investigates and loved learning about all the various characters and their secrets. The story was a great mystery with just enough danger to keep up the suspense.

Fans of YA mysteries with engaging characters will enjoy getting to know Cecelia and all of the people around her. 

Favorite Quote:

I'll be the strange new kid with the dead mom, moving in with the town's most famous resident, and six weeks of work to catch up on, because death does not time itself conveniently to school schedules. Not to mention the lifetime of friendships I'll never edge in on. Kids in towns like these are born here, die here. Relationships go from womb to tomb.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.