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Pretty Dead Queens

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About this listen

 The new homecoming queen is dead . . . and she's not the first unsolved murder at Seaview High. From the critically acclaimed author of The Ivies comes a nonstop YA thriller about a decades-old mystery, a copycat killer, and the teen who will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

"Utterly savage." –Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of They’ll Never Catch Us

"Hand this fast-paced thriller filled with plenty of twists and drama to fans of Holly Jackson or Karen M. McManus." -SLJ

A 2023 Edgar Award Nominee!

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. Death & Dying Difficult Situations Literature & Fiction Mysteries & Detectives Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Thrillers & Suspense Fiction Mystery Crime Royalty

Critic reviews

Praise for Pretty Dead Queens:

"An intricately plotted whodunit that maintains suspense to the end.” –Kirkus Reviews

"Donne sets up an irresistible premise for mystery lovers, blending toxic family legacies, small-town secrets, and true-crime culture into a twisty tale." -Booklist

"Perfect for...spooky season." -BuzzFeed

"Sharp as a knife and utterly savage, Pretty Dead Queens has an ending that will shock even the most astute mystery buffs." –Jessica Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of They’ll Never Catch Us

"Compulsively readable and methodically plotted, Pretty Dead Queens is smart, twisted, and cozy—everything I love in a mystery." –J.Elle, New York Times bestselling author of Wings of Ebony

"Twisty, imaginative, and highly addictive, Pretty Dead Queens is Alexa Donne at her devious best. Packed with small-town secrets, family mysteries, and intrigue: be prepared to stay up well past your bedtime." –Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, author of All Eyes On Her and The Girls Are All So Nice Here

"Pretty Dead Queens crackles with wit, romance, and atmosphere! Set in a small town full of big lies and unsolved murders, this fast-paced whodunnit will keep you guessing as Cecelia, a whip-smart teen turned amateur investigator, risks everything to stop the killer and bring justice to the victims. A thriller to die for!" –Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of Lies Like Wildfire and Friends Like These

"A brain-bending, twisty tale in a picturesque, coastal town bursting with secrets, lies, and ultimate betrayals. The perfect blend of Hitchcock, Agatha Christie, and Jessica Fletcher—all brought to life with the deftness of Donne’s razor-sharp insight into the dark side of human nature." –Jennieke Cohen, author of My Fine Fellow and Dangerous Alliance

"Donne has written a wicked, twisted high school horror-show that will keep you guessing until the very last page." –Brenna Ehrlich, author of Killing Time

"A twisted and deliciously messed-up YA thriller with a dead homecoming queen and a copycat killer that will keep you guessing to the end." --Darby Kane, #1 international bestselling author of Pretty Little Wife
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I Found the character of Donnes other books a bit difficult to root for, though i did enjoy the plot for the most part. The characters and set up of this book were stellar, twists didn’t feel forced and were genuinely surprising while not being telegraphed a million miles ahead (though I did suss them out a little ahead) - excited to see more from her

Loved it

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So many wonderful twists and turns. It was read to beautifully and really draws you in.

Amazing amazing amazing

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I am quite picky and usually quit on a book after like 10 minutes, but I really enjoyed this book. It is very well written and the characters feel like actual real teens despite the shocking things that happen. It gives me Nancy Drew x Jawbreaker vibes. It was really engaging as I felt that I was trying to solve the murder(s) with the main character, especially due to the author using the present tense. I'll definitely be reading/listening to more of Alexa Donne's books and highly recommend this book for other YA readers/listeners.

Loved!! A great dark YA book.

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Was a great book good plot twist got me hooked in the 5 chapter and amazing story

G

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I did not see that end coming. Listened to it every chance I got because I just had to know how it ended but didn’t see the final twist coming.

Wow! Just wow!

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