Friday, June 28, 2019

DEAD GIRLS DON'T LIE by Marlie May


Title:  DEAD GIRLS DON’T LIE
Series:  Janie Davis Mystery #1
Author:  Marlie May
Publisher:  Hummingbird Press
Publish Date:   06.28.2019
Category /Genre:  YA suspense
Recommended for:  14+ due to suspense/fear factor
Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from:  Marlie May
Goodreads link: Dead Girls Don’t Lie
Date completed: 06.28.2019

Description from the publisher:

Dead girls don't lie...or do they?

A young adult suspense.

Seventeen-year-old Janie Davis was found wandering a Maine beach with second-degree burns on her arms and no memory of what happened.  An accident on her family’s rented yacht caused it to sink, taking her parents and best friend down with it.  Recovering, Janie returns home under the watchful gaze of her new guardian—an aunt who had been ostracized by Janie’s family.

Snooping uncovers the accident report.  Horrified to learn the deaths could be murder, Janie is determined to solve the crime.  Selective breaking and entering leads her to two suspects: her father’s shady business partner who profited from Dad’s death and her aunt, a woman with a sketchy past she’s eager to hide.

Her investigation leads her to crash a party where she uncovers more evidence in the homeowner’s office.  Then her brake lines are cut and only a quick plunge to the floor keeps an overhead lamp from impaling her.  This, and the warning, You’re Next, proves she’s getting closer.

If she doesn’t expose the murderer, Janie could be the next victim. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DEAD GIRLS DON’T LIE is the first book in the Janie Davis Mystery series.  Each will be a complete YA stand-alone cozy mystery – a modern Nancy Drew, but I recommend reading this one first as it establishes the characters and their relationship.

Let’s start with the characters.  Janine, who prefers to be called Janie, is at times whiny, but that could be dismissed as the antics of an overindulged child of wealth.  Luckily, she’s not a complete snob.  Her friends are quality people, no matter their background. 

The story is powerful with plenty of twisting to keep me engaged and guessing.  I was stomping my foot and clenching my fists, laughing a few times, crying, and holding my breath as the characters ran from task to task in their race to find the murderer.

Some of the writing was stiff and repetitive – I’ll never see my parents and Brianna again – but I understand it was to show the despair of loss; I’ve felt that despair.

I liked the ending; it was fair and believable.  I look forward to more from this series.

Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

The Janie Davis Mystery series:
1.      Dead Girls Don’t Lie
2.      Beware the Ruins (coming soon)
Also from Marlie May:
·         Twist of Fate
Crescent Bay series:
1.      Some Like It Scot
2.      Simply Irresistible
Viper Force Series:
1.      Fearless
2.      Ruthless (releases Summer 2019)
3.      Dauntless
4.      Reckless









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