Hello Readers,
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Fire for the early copy of Girls Who
Play Dead. I received a complimentary eBook in exchange for an honest review. I
adored The Blonde Dies First, so seeing Joelle’s name pop up on NetGalley was
an instant request from me. With the book publishing today there’s no need to
worry this review is completely spoiler-free.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the cover image featured in this post.
It is used under Fair Use for the purposes of review and recommendation, in
line with sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright Act.
Happy Publication Day
Title: Girls Who Play Dead
Author: Joelle Wellington
Genre: Young Adult (YA), Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Pages: 410
Cover Image:
Synopsis: Two siblings investigate the murder of a friend
only to unearth even more deadly mysteries in their small town in this
page-turning young adult thriller from the acclaimed author of Their
Vicious Games.
When Mikky Graves left his small, stifling hometown of Prophets Lake to live
with his estranged mother, he thought nothing could ever make him return for
good.
Until his sister Kyla’s best friend, Erin, is murdered.
Mikky never worried about leaving Kyla behind at their family-owned funeral
home so long as she had Erin. But when Mikky heads home, determined to help
Kyla grieve, the sister he encounters barely resembles the one he remembers.
Mikky decides, then and there, to do the one thing that seems even more
impossible than stay.
As Kyla spirals further into her rage and secrets, Mikky realizes the only
thing that can help his sister is finding the truth about who killed Erin. But
the more he investigates, the further he’s pulled into other ugly mysteries of
Prophets Lake and the beauty brand that is its lifeblood. The town’s rot runs
deep, and everyone has something to hide. Perhaps no one more than Kyla
herself.
Miniature Review
Joelle’s latest YA thriller, Girls Who Play Dead, is set in
the seemingly perfect small town of Prophets Lake, but this story digs deep
into the cracks beneath the surface, where grief, guilt, and ambition
intertwine in dangerous ways.
From the opening pages, Joelle’s writing grabs you. Her
characters aren’t just vivid—they’re alive, layered, and refreshingly real. Mikky
and Kyla make for an unforgettable duo, with their imperfect sibling bond
driving the emotional depth of this haunting tale.
What sets Girls Who Play Dead apart from other small-town
murder mysteries is Joelle’s signature style its razor-sharp social commentary
wrapped in brilliant storytelling. Joelle explores themes of beauty culture,
privilege, and identity with precision, all while crafting a mystery that keeps
you guessing until the final reveal.
Balancing emotional depth with edge-of-your-seat tension,
this book is both a page-turner and a gut punch.
L x
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