I was really intrigued by Stacey Lee’s Kill Her Twice, especially since I quite enjoyed The Downstairs Girl and Luck of the Titanic, but ultimately was pretty let down by it. I really enjoy Stacey Lee’s style of writing, especially the way she writes historical fiction and sets up the world — I think it’s very easy to imagine yourself in that period, regardless of if it’s the 1890s, 1910s, or the 1930s. Right from the get-go, we’re dropped into a world of mystery and intrigue: who killed Lulu Wong, and why did they do it? Unfortunately, I don’t think the mystery element was executed as well as Lee had intended it to be. Or perhaps, maybe I just wasn’t entranced by the characters, or the mystery as much as I wanted to. Honestly, this book felt like it dragged on — but was also incredibly short at the same time. Kill Her Twice simply didn't work for me.

Stacey Lee always does a wonderful job with historical settings, and I loved 1930's Los Angeles as the backdrop for Kill Her Twice. The two protagonist sisters, May and Gemma, set out to solve the murder of May's friend and star Lulu Wong. I found May and Gemma to be clear, distinct characters and thought the book had a strong premise. The level of detail that Lee included is impressive but led to a book that I felt could have been tighter and much shorter. Though there were times I found myself skimming to get to the excitement, I'll continue to seek out Lee's writing.

As a fan of Stacey Lee's The Downstairs Girl, I had high expectations for Kill Her Twice, and this book did not disappoint!

Written in alternating perspectives - older sister May (the rule follower) and middle sister Gemma (the rule bender) - the story tracks the girls as they work to support their family and help their community. When their childhood friend Lulu - an up-and-coming movie star - is murdered, the girls decide it is up to them to figure out who the true killer is since the authorities don't seem to care about the truth. Faced with cultural expectations, misogyny, racism, prejudice & corruption at every turn, the girls must figure out ways to outsmart the authorities and all the people standing in their way.

I loved the dynamic between all 3 of the sisters - there is a 3rd, younger sister named Peony - and how they bicker and yet have each others' backs no matter what. The mystery is twisty and leaves plenty of false clues along the way. Overall, just a great historical mystery, and one set in a time and situation that we don't see a lot in YA fiction. It made me aware of things I did not previously know about and sent me on a search about historical events of this nature, which I always feel is the mark of a great historical read.

100% will be purchasing for my library!

#KillHerTwice #YAhistoricalfiction #YAmystery
Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.

Lee’s ability to interweave a perfectly paced story with historical details is exceptional. The brightly drawn characters are relatable while still being of thier own era.

Old Hollywood 1930s historical fiction feel with a great mystery vibe. Loved this one. This book is interesting and fun, it keeps you reading. Two sisters are solving the death of an actress. This is a lot more detailed then the normal ya book and has a lot of descriptions. Cover art is stunning. Overall great book.

this was a wonderful, cleverly written novel! Stacey Lee has never disappointed me yet. Her writing, sprinkled effortlessly with new spins on old sayings and metaphors, is like a breath of fresh air in this era where YA authors are trying so hard that their writing becomes corny and contrived. Her characters are unique and lovable in their own ways, and of course we get adorable side romances that don't even hint at trying to take over the plot. The plot itself is exciting and well-paced, with lots of twists and turns to keep one interested while also including many details of the rich backdrop of 1932 Los Angeles. My one complaint was that it could have used a little more action near the middle, as well as more closure on certain subjects at the end. But overall, Kill Her Twice was an immersive and fascinating murder mystery that is sure to deliver to whatever expectations you have for it!

I have enjoyed Stacey Lee’s previous books and this one did not let down my expectations. While I did think he mystery could have moved a little faster I enjoyed the story. The two narrators, sisters May and Gemma, were both great characters and totally unique voices. This book is set in the depression era as there was a push to destroy Chinatown. I like that our amateur sleuths faced barriers of being taken seriously far beyond your typical amateur sleuths. May’s good friend Lulu has made it big in Hollywood and while she offered to get May a part as an extra to break into the business as well, but May has responsibilities at home. May and Gemma have taken over the family’s flower selling business since their father was sent a a sanitarium due to health issues. Gemma and May were horrified to find Lulu’s dead body and when the police don’t seem to be taking her murder seriously enough the two girls are determined to get justice for their friend.

May and Gemma Chow have been struggling to keep their family’s flower selling business afloat in 1930s Los Angeles, after doctors send the teenaged girls’ beloved father to recuperate from tuberculosis in the dry desert climate of San Bernardino. Business has never been particularly booming, and the girls have had to resort to increasingly ingenious measures to help support their younger sister Peony and their pregnant Ma. Fast-talking Gemma is full of smart, if not entirely legal, ideas, while beautiful, dutiful oldest sister May tries her best to keep Gemma on the straight and narrow.

With businessmen threatening to raze Chinatown around their ears and Ma making increasingly loud noises about nineteen year-old May getting married, the last thing the girls need is a catastrophe to upset the already delicate balance of their world. Stumbling across the dead body of May’s old friend Lulu Wong is, unfortunately, exactly that kind of unneeded disaster. But Lulu’s death will have greater consequences for more than just the sisters’ lives. The young woman wasn’t just one of May’s closest friends: she was also a rising Hollywood star who’d amassed enough money to move with her family to Beverly Hills. What could have possibly brought Lulu back to an abandoned structure in Chinatown, and what – or rather who – left her lying there, dead?

The police are inclined to dismiss Lulu’s death as a case of the local Chinese turning on one of their own, a line of thinking that the Chows understandably find infuriating. An incensed Gemma tells her sister:

QUOTE
[“W]e owe it to Lulu to keep an eye on matters. We need to make sure justice is served, don’t you see? She might’ve been a somebody when she was alive, but now, who knows?” Gemma gazed up at me, her face as earnest as a daisy.

Worry trapped my breath in my chest. Lulu’s wealth and fame would give the investigation a push. But for how long and how far? In the end, she was just a dead Chinese woman, without even a father to speak for her. Would she matter enough? I said a prayer and nodded. Lulu [...] needed us. Plus, though Gemma might be bolder, she was also more foolish, and it was my duty to keep folly’s hand off her.
END QUOTE

As the girls investigate both separately and together, they find themselves moving amidst Los Angeles’ most rich and famous. From City Hall to Hollywood, the sisters brave hostility, corruption and their own treacherous hearts in their pursuit of the truth. But how far are they willing to go to find justice for Lulu, and by extension for their entire community?

Because Lulu wasn’t just a good friend with a generous soul who happened to have a talent for acting. She had ambitions far beyond her own glory. As she told May in their last in-person conversation together, she had decided to stop being pigeonholed into supporting roles. She was actually going to play the heroine in her next movie, a truly groundbreaking move not only for Hollywood but also for the Chinese American community, who faced constant discrimination merely for the way they looked:

QUOTE
I grabbed her fingers and squealed. “That’s fantastic.” Lulu always played the villain. It’d never occurred to me that she might play anything else. Would having a Chinese girl as a heroine shift perceptions of us? Might some come to believe we weren’t so bad? [...]

She faced the ocean again, her profile as resolute as carved jade. “See, sometimes you can’t just open the front door to air the house. Sometimes you have to come from the side, through a window. Sure, it’s work to lift it, even a crack. But once you get your fingers under it, the lifting gets easier. And when the sweet breeze fills the spaces, change will follow.”
END QUOTE

However reluctantly, the Chow sisters are inspired to take up Lulu’s mantle, fighting for progress, equality and visibility. But was that the reason someone felt Lulu had to die? And will her killer target May and Gemma next?

This was an incredibly sympathetic and illuminating historical mystery that kept me guessing almost till the very end. It’s easy to forget how different things were in America not even a century ago, as equal rights were only reluctantly extended to different minority groups in fits and starts. So many brave souls – represented here by Lulu, May and Gemma, among others – strove to change the public perception of minorities, fighting entrenched interests on their way to getting the world to acknowledge our shared humanity. Stacey Lee writes with both verve and accuracy, bringing the facts to startling, colorful life through the Chows’ struggles. I rather hope this isn’t the last we see of May and Gemma, as the sisters – so different in temperament and outlook – make for a truly terrific team.

Lulu Wong has a face that has graced the silver screen and is known by many, but no one knows her quite as well as her childhood friends and classmates, the Chow sisters. Living in a mansion in Beverly Hills, Lulu doesn’t often return to Chinatown, so everyone is surprised when she is found far from home, dead. Gemma, May and Peony are convinced that Lulu was the victim of foul play, but the LAPD doesn’t seem driven to investigate, preferring instead to use the crime as another excuse to demolish, as powerful men describe it, crime-filled Chinatown to make way for a new railway depot. Determined to find Lulu’s killer and save their community, the Chow sisters will do whatever they need to in order to uncover the truth.

Kill Her Twice was a novel that is a beautifully written piece of historical fiction that I really enjoyed. Both Gemma and May act as the main narrators, offering similar yet unique perspectives about the events taking place and the feelings held by many of the characters; these two sisters could not be more different. While there is a decent mystery within the narrative I think the historical and social commentaries carry the story just as much, if not more. I also found the title to be an apt representation/perspective of the death of Lulu.

Thank you to Penguin Teen Canada for sending me an ARC to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own honest review.

I loved this book. The setting was fantastic, and the author really transported me back to the 1930s with the Chow sisters. I liked the dual POV narration between May and Gemma, and I liked that the sisters were very different.
The mystery in this one was fantastic. Lulu’s death isn’t being investigated properly, so Gemma and May decide to do so themselves. They got into some trouble, but they also found answers. I liked how many different angles they had to look into. I also liked how they came across supporting characters who continued to play a role in the story. The ultimate villain was revealed really well, and the story had me guessing right up until a few pages before the reveal when all the clues were laid out.
The pacing was good, and I liked that there was the mystery but also the family elements and May and Wallace’s budding relationship. The story really followed their lives during this period of unease with the impending destruction of Chinatown and the murder of Lulu.
I was hooked by the story, the characters and the writing style. It was easy to read and follow along with, and the author did a fantastic job of setting up the mystery and dropping clues.

Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee is a young adult historical fiction mystery set in the 1930s Hollywood era. This also coincides with the demolition of Los Angeles Chinatown to make way for a union station.

I enjoyed the mystery aspect of this and found much of the historical information interesting. The main characters were sisters and I found their banter and personalities to be a plus of the novel.

"Kill Her Twice" by Stacey Lee offers a captivating blend of mystery, intrigue, and historical fiction set against the backdrop of 1930s Los Angeles. The author masterfully weaves together elements of fame, friendship, and societal tensions, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The Chow sisters' determination to seek justice for their friend Lulu while navigating the complexities of Chinatown and the broader cityscape adds depth and richness to the story. Lee's vivid descriptions and meticulous attention to detail immerse readers in the sights and sounds of the era, making for a truly immersive reading experience. While the pacing may lag slightly at times, the payoff is well worth it as the plot twists and turns towards a satisfying conclusion. Overall, "Kill Her Twice" is a gripping mystery that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and detective novels alike.

An interesting portrayal of the golden age of Hollywood and its orientalism. A Chinese actress lulu wong breaking barriers and bringing her people with her is discovered murdered in her hometown of Chinatown.
Two Chinese sisters that grew up with lulu are determined to solve the mystery of her death since the police can’t seem to be bothered.
With so many suspects and so little time will they find the killer before the killer finds them?

What I love most about Stacey Lee’s books is the way she incorporates Chinese American history. Set in 1930s Los Angeles, Kill Her Twice transports readers to a vibrant Chinatown on the brink of change, with the proposed construction of Union Station essentially demolishing the close-knit community.

At the heart of the story are the Chow sisters, May and Gemma, who find their childhood friend turned actress, Lulu Wong, murdered in a horse stable. Their strong bond and determination drive the narrative forward as they search for the killer. Faced with corruption and prejudice, they challenge society’s expectations and risk their own lives in the process.

With Kill Her Twice, Stacey Lee has written an intriguing young adult historical mystery filled with suspense, romance, and social commentary. Add in strong character development and you’ve got a combination that will keep you hooked until the very end.

I love a good historical fiction read, this one did not disappoint. We have sisters trying to solve the case of Lulu Wong, who is a famous actress who they grew up with. In the process they are trying to help run the family business because their dad is away, their mom is pregnant, and then they get tangled up in the biggest mess ever!!! It was a wild ride, May Gemma and Peony are amazing!

Thank you, G.P. Putnam's Sons for Young Readers and NetGalley, for the eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I'm a sucker for a good historical fiction novel and this one didn't disappoint. Plus it combined another favorite genre of mine: mystery/thriller. Add in great writing, multiple POV, and interesting characters and it had so many elements that I enjoy!

We're following Gemma, May, and Peony, as they try to figure out who killed their former friend Lulu Wong, a famous movie star who was murdered and left in a random stable. The police seem reluctant to expend energy into the case and thus show that Chinatown would be better off being turned into a train station, so they take matters into their own hands and try to solve the case -- and save their neighborhood.

I thought the ending was interesting, though some of the twists were a bit predictable. I enjoy Lee's writing style and the characters that she brings to life. I liked the family dynamic she portrayed and was rooting for the Chow sisters.

If you like historical fiction or mystery books, check this one out!

I gave this one 3.5 stars.

Happy publication day to Kill Her Twice!
Stacey Lee is a reliable voice in the YA historical fiction world and this is one of my favorites from her. It's faster paced than her usual writing style with two first person POVs set in 1930's LA Chinatown. The murder of Hollywood's star, Lulu Wong is the driving force in this novel. Sisters May, Gemma, and Peony decide to solve the mystery since no one else cares enough about the death of the controversial Chinese actress to find the real culprit. There are many twists and turns, some romance, and family duty vs. personal ambitions.
Even though this is a historical fiction, it will strongly appeal to mystery and thriller fans thanks to the traditional murder mystery story at the center. Readers will enjoy learning more about the historical time period but it's more of a backdrop to the action rather than the centering aspect of the novel. A fun book that lightly explores racism, sexism, and corruption without being heavy handed.

After reading this book, I really want to be one of the clouds, inside the house looking out. I just fell so in love with these sisters. They made me laugh and cry and shake my head at their antics. They were just so unique and fun and totally unexpected. I wasn't sure what this book was going to shape up to be - young adult, noir, family drama, old Hollywood, mystery, thriller, romance or suspense - but it's actually a wonderfully blended combination of all of it. I don't know if there are more adventures in store for these intrepid girls, but I certainly hope so. I didn't want to leave this world once the book was over. There just has to be more to come in the lives of these beautiful flowers.

This was a fun murder mystery that also deals with the heavy themes of misogyny and racism. I found the story to be both propulsive and entertaining. So many seedy suspects to choose from, I did not guess the k*ller.

The Chow sisters were delightful. As the oldest daughter, May was the steady, sensible sister, wanting to find the murderer of her dear friend Lulu, yet always cautious in the approach. Middle sister Gemma was vivacious and impulsive, always taking risks, and coming up with answers.

Chinatown was also a major character in the story. With a heartbeat of its own, full of colorful characters, and a strong sense of community, I was rooting for its survival.

I believe this book is being called YA, but I didn’t find that out until after I read it and wouldn’t call it YA at all. This was a great historical fiction mystery with fascinating characters and the moodiness of an old Hollywood crime noir. Very entertaining. I would recommend!

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinteen for this gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really compelling read and I liked it a lot. There are a lot of things, though, that stop me from giving it a full 5 stars, and until now I'm not sure if they're objective critiques or matters of personal preference. For example, I found May and Gemma great narrators, but there were moments when their voices were really hard to distinguish from each other which made me second think whose POV I was reading. The dialogue is a wonderful reflection of the time period, but it made younger characters sound older than they actually were. But overall, an enjoyable book. I'd definitely recommend, and maybe I'll even go back on my rating after I decide how I feel about it entirely.