There's a lot to say about this book. Overall I really enjoyed the book and I should probably read this genre more often.
First of all, the writing style is very easy to read. It didn't take me a long time to read the chapters (or the overall book). The book is definetely meant for a YA audience, the focus of some of the descriptions is right out of the mind of a 16 year old. If this is something you don't enjoy, then I would advise you to not read this book as you read in the first person narrative of a teenage girl.

On to the characters; our FMC Bettina, Bett for short, is a bit all over the place. We learn very little about what makes Bett tick. At some point, we learn Bett wants to become an actress, but I couldn't tell you why; there's no further explanation for her "passion" besides the fact that she just doesn't want to be a lawyer like her granddad wants her to be.
The relationships she builds with the other characters in the book are all quite shallow in my opinion. The only relationship that seems to grow during our plot is the one with Eugenia.
I wouldn't say I particularly like Bett, some of her choices and actions were not something I can get behind. Bett's actions sometimes border on bullying, which is something that was tough to read as I found myself lacking sympathy for her at a later point in the book.

The idea and the plot were very interesting. I like how the killer stays secret for a big part of the book and how I couldn't immediately tell who would be the killer. The actual reveal was quite a surprise to me, as I had my money on another character for the killer.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the plot. I would have given the book 5 stars if there would have been more personality in the characters and some decent character growth.
I would recommend this book if you're into YA thriller mysteries and want an easy, entertaining read.

I truly enjoyed this book! I've been in a reading slump forever, and devoured this in two sittings. Bett is an amazing "unlikeable" character, with so much depth that I couldn't help but feel her pain and understand why she is the way she is. Peterson reached into the heart of Bett, and dragged her very soul to the fore in order to bring us into the mind of a girl marred by the specter of her father's evil deeds, and her mother's vicious murder (before her eyes, I might add. That would screw anyone up). Bett is a young woman, screaming inside and lashing out in ways that make her such a real, grounded character. Does she need therapy? Absolutely, LOL. I hope Bett decides to get some in the future. The plot itself was riveting, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. If I were to sum up Dead Girls Talking with one word, it would be "Inspired." Congratulations on a triumph, Megan Cooley Peterson!

I read this book in one (1) day. It truly gave my the heeby jeebies, and I struggled to sleep. Not many books do this. HOWEVER, the plot and everything about this book was great and made the lack of sleep worth it. The plot twists were great.

I definitely think this could be liked as a YA book but it wasn’t atmospheric enough for my liking and a bit cliché. Love the North Carolina representation though! Would recommend to teens.

Unfortunately, I can’t get myself to enjoy this book. The main character is not very likeable and the story is honestly just a bit boring. The plot is great, but the execution is just taking too long to get to the point. The writing is quite choppy which normally doesn’t bother me, but it just seemed messy while reading it.

Bettina’s father is known as the Smiley Faced Killer. She testified to help convict him of killing her mother when she was younger. Ten years later, she finds a body in the woods with the same carvings as in her mother’s case. Now she wonders, was she wrong about her father and he’s innocent like he’s always claimed, or is this a copycat murder?

This is a young adult murder mystery. I like the investigative plot of the book. I really like the character Eugenia. The chapters aren’t too long, which is always a plus for me. It’s an easy read and kept my attention. I liked the ending.

"Dead Girls Talking" by Megan Cooley Peterson is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the haunting legacy of family secrets and the chilling truth behind a string of copycat murders. Set in the town of Wolf Ridge, where everyone knows Bettina's father as The Smiley Face Killer, the novel follows Bettina as she grapples with the unsettling possibility that her father might not be the murderer everyone believes him to be.

Peterson masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue as Bettina teams up with the enigmatic Eugenia, the mortician's daughter, to uncover the truth behind the murders plaguing their town. The dynamic between the two protagonists is both compelling and complex, adding depth to the narrative as they navigate the murky waters of family loyalty and betrayal.

With its atmospheric setting and well-drawn characters, "Dead Girls Talking" keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Peterson's skillful storytelling and expert pacing make this novel a must-read for fans of psychological suspense and true crime fiction. Overall, "Dead Girls Talking" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page.

This is a gripping YA thriller that delves into dark themes. Yet, amidst the darkness, it also explores friendship, resilience, and justice. Peterson's writing style, coupled with the fast pacing and concise chapters, kept my attention. The story is set in the quiet town of Wolf Ridge, the story unveils layers of deceit and darkness lurking beneath its surface. The characters, particularly Bett and Eugenia, are well crafted, each of them dealing with their own demons.

Overall, this is a good YA thriller and a fun read.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.

I really liked the premise of this book. Ultimately I think it missed the mark. The FMC was a bit (maybe a lot) annoying. At the end of the day, she was an upper class white female. It was kind of hard to see sympathy in her plights outside obviously the murder of her mother. Obviously I could have missed it the point entirely. The “approach to justice and female anger” was painted in the relationships the FMC has with men but that’s also where it stopped until we got to our killer.

The plot was…oddly worked. Once we get to the end it’s a reveal of the truth and the why but no explanation to the how? All in all, the premise was great but I think this one just fell a little flat.

This is a good, solid mystery which asks some important questions. . I like the variety of characters and the fact that despite some poor choices, they still do important and heroic things. Will definitely add this book to my classroom library. Would work well for students who are into cold cases, second chances, women looking out for each other. Also has some great topics for discussion in book club or lit circles. We could talk about the commercialization of murder, the professional ethics of law enforcement, lawyers, and the media. Students will definitely connect their experiences with ‘popular kids’ , friendship, relationships, and understanding their own identities in relation to those around them. This book is going to be a hit.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.

I really liked the premise of this book. Ultimately I think it missed the mark. The FMC was a bit (maybe a lot) annoying. At the end of the day, she was an upper class white female. It was kind of hard to see sympathy in her plights outside obviously the murder of her mother. Obviously I could have missed it the point entirely. The “approach to justice and female anger” was painted in the relationships the FMC has with men but that’s also where it stopped until we got to our killer.

The plot was…oddly worked. Once we get to the end it’s a reveal of the truth and the why but no explanation to the how? All in all, the premise was great but I think this one just fell a little flat.

After I read The Liar’s Daughter, I was very much interested in other books written by Megan Cooley Petersen. Dead Girls Talking is a mid level young adult and reminds me of something I would have read in high school. Or even late middle school. The story opens with Bett, a young girl left behind rehashing the events of her childhood, when her father murdered her mother and left her alive. As he is currently prison, she’s haunted by the start of new killings, leaving her wondering, did he actually do it?

The book was just okay to me, pacing and development felt very even. I just wished Bett had been written a less like a bully and a mean girl. I don’t know if I fully believe in the story; we unfortunately live in a society of mass murder so it was harder to believe the story of a man who killed two people would get so much attention that the attention affected the MC so much, with crime podcasts and even house tours. What I liked was the growing friendship and dynamic between Bett and Eugenia, with Eugenia definitely being the stronger character. The story played out as I thought it would but the writing style and flow still made it an enjoyable and easy read. A good young adult option if you like true crime podcasts.

If you’re looking to get into this author’s work, I would suggest starting with The Liar’s Daughter first.

Really good book. I was instantly hooked and couldn’t put it down. Such an easy, fun, exciting, thrilling read. Highly recommend reading this one!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy!

Unfortunately, this book did fall a bit flat for me. The cover and description seemed right up my alley but I did feel disappointed by the execution. The characters felt flat and I really couldn’t connect much with them, and the writing didn’t have much tension. However, there were some great twists and I didn’t seem a lot of the ending coming!

This was OK, murder mystery in a small town nothing too shocking. I didn't see the end coming, which is definitely a plus for this type of book.

Growing up with a father who is a murderer infamous for killing her mother, Bettina has had a rough ride despite her privilege.

But when events conspire to make her actually question whether in fact her father was ever actually guilty of this crime, the only person willing to help her is the local mortician's daughter, who wears her goth identity on her sleeve and carries a few burdens of her own when it comes to social expectations...

This is a razor sharp and darkly humorous story. It also touches on some very serious issues, but they're incorporated into the narrative so cleverly, that you may not even fully realise the underlying emotions driving this very readable story.

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Bettina Jane Holland has a lot on her plate. Not only has she lost her friend group (if only Natalie would admit she was wrong, <I>maybe</I> they could patch things up), finals are looming, her Harvard interview is next week, and she's just decided she wants to no longer visit her incarcerated father. It's not easy living in a town haunted by the brutal murder of your mother, especially when you were the key witness that put your father into jail-- and to say Bettina is struggling would be an understatement. However, when a copycat murderer starts plucking women from the small town of Wolf Ridge, Bettina has to grapple with the questioning everything she thought she knew about her father.

I wanted to love this book so much. It has everything-- the beautiful cover, the intriguing premise, the rich girl and goth girl duo, the <I>intrigue</I>. But unfortunately, DEAD GIRLS TALKING fell flat for me.

Bettina was insufferable as a character. It would have been one thing if she'd grown during the course of the story, but she's still the same vapid, self-centered girl at the end as she was at the start. Sure, having your world crumbling around you might put some things into perspective, but there wasn't any self-reflection or meaningful growth that led me (the reader) to think the experience made Bettina a better person. Also, there wasn't much to her from the beginning but her generational wealth and her trauma. <spoiler>At the end, she declares she's interested in pursuing acting instead of law. What??? The only hint we get she's interested in drama is an assignment to memorize a monologue that she didn't end up doing?</spoiler> I have no idea. what Bettina's identity will look like after the end of this story, and honestly, I don't think she does either.

And if it wasn't hard enough to get over the main character, the plot really wasn't that great either. Everything fell into Bettina and Eugina's laps-- and, sure, let's play devil's advocate and assume the police are THAT incompetent and uninterested, but I have a really hard time believing that two teenage girls managed to solve a decades-old crime by asking four/five people some questions. And the ending, while a fun twist, felt unexpected and unbelievable (and not in a fun way). <spoiler>I have a hard time believing Bettina's narcissistic
father would allow himself to rot in jail for 10+ years when Lydia could have very easily continued killing from the very beginning to prove his innocence? There was no reason for him to take the fall for that long, and really no reason to start up again after all that time. Additionally, I hated that there wasn't any conclusion on her father-- how is he allowed to walk free and Bettina shrugs it off and says "He'll get caught eventually, I guess". Girl. Your father orchestrated a murder spree and he knows you know, and you're fine with just hanging with your aunt and grandparents?</spoiler>

Overall, if I was a teenager looking for a quick thriller, this would fit the bill. However, with so many other fantastic books in the genre, I can't say this would be my first pick.

to say im disappointed in this is a understatement. first i would like to say is i was very excited about this. when I first seen the cover i knew i had to read it, then i read the description and was over the moon. lately I’ve been into young adult murder mysteries/ thrillers (I’ve recently read a ya series and fell in love with it) so i knew what i was getting myself into when reading this (or so i thought)

I understand young adult is targeted towards a younger audience but i myself as an adult in her early 20’s I enjoy a good young adult book from time to time.

Now I had a couple problems with this book.

first the writing style (yes I understand it’s ya) felt really mediocre even for the genre, when I say this I mean one page it’ll be good and then out of nowhere they throw in words that could’ve been replaced with a simpler word rather than a big complicated word whereas a younger audience would get confused by it. (even I found myself confused😭)

Second there was a scene towards the beginning where the main character was having a sexual encounter with someone and it didn’t feel right to read it in a young adult novel. The scene wasn’t very explicit but it still felt like it was too much for it to be in this.

Third: this is very fast paced. Don’t get me wrong I love a good fast paced book here and there but I felt like we just got thrown into this with no buildup or anything. One page there’s a body and the next she’s making friends with the other main character and trying to discover the killer.

Fourth: honestly all the characters felt like they were just there 🧍🏻‍♀️and what I mean by that is that they didn’t feel real, they felt undeveloped and had no emotions or anything. The mc’s “love interest” was boring and felt he was just there to add nothing to this story except being a “mysterious bad boy” who is interested in the mc’s mothers death.
The second mc Eugina was literally the best character and still she gave us nothing 😀. Her relationship with the mc Bettina was so random? I understand being in high school and not knowing some of your classmates even though you’ve been going to the same school for years but how they became friends was thrown at me out of nowhere.
In the beginning Eugina is giving and presentation in class and Bettina makes a comment basically bullying her and the class laughs and next thing you know Bettina is inviting her to a party and boom they form a friendship and start looking into the murders because you know Eugina is the morticians daughter 😀

There’s also many plot holes in the story that we never get an answer too and the story felt unfinished.

I could keep going on and on about this book and everything I didn’t like about it but I will spoil the story.
Maybe it’s because im older and the genre isn’t targeted towards me and that’s why I didn’t like it? I hope anyone who does pick this up in the future enjoys its more than I did.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!!

2.75

For someone who doesn’t read a lot of mysteries, it all comes down to one reason: I’m picky with them. A lot of mysteries have disappointed me because the twist isn’t good or it’s just not believable at all. Dead Girls Talking didn’t really disappoint me, but it did not wow me either. I’ve read better, and I’ve read worse. However, one thing I liked about this book was the pacing. Even though the mystery itself wasn’t that interesting for me, I could not put this book down because it was so easy to read.

Dead Girls Talking is about Bettina’s father who has been arrested for killing her mom. However, lately, there have been numerous killings in the town of Wolf Ridge similar to the killing of her mom. It all comes down to one question: Did her father really kill her mom?

In this novel, we follow two characters: Bett, the daughter of the serial killer, and Eugenia, the mortician’s daughter. Together, they try to solve the town’s mystery.

One issue I had with this book is that the characters are so undeveloped. They felt so one-dimensional. Even Bett herself was one-dimensioned. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves in mysteries because you’re trying to find out who the killer is. The ‘twist would be unbelievable’ if your characters are one-dimensional. Because if so, you just wrote the killer for the shock and not because of the plot.

The plot twists were poorly done. The theories were thrown around just as it is and weren’t dug into as deep as I wanted them to be. There were extreme guesses and there were no real backup sources for them. Like, I guess it’s good to expect the unknown, but it kind of went down to: there’s no source, just trust me, bro.

Now, onto the things that I liked, I really like plot, and it felt like the plot was really well thought of. Everything was there for a reason, which I really loved. As I mentioned earlier, I really liked the pacing of the novel. It’s what every mystery book should be. Quick, gritty, and unputdownable.

This was a nice ya murder mistery, what I liked the most was the way the writer describes the trauma the main charachter is going through, after all this was the main focus of the story, and the friendship between Bett and Eugenia. They were cute together, maybe it could have been more developed but I like that we see their differences and how they compensate each other so well.
Talking about the murders' exaplanation, it was okay, not so predictable but a little unrealistic for me.
Last but not least , the cover is amazing!