Dead Dead Girls
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3.7 • 31 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“In this terrific series opener, Afia evokes the women’s lives in all their wayward and beautiful glory, especially the abruptness with which their dreams, hopes and fears cease to exist.”--The New York Times
The start of an exciting new historical mystery series set during the Harlem Renaissance from debut author Nekesa Afia
Harlem, 1926. Young Black women like Louise Lloyd are ending up dead.
Following a harrowing kidnapping ordeal when she was in her teens, Louise is doing everything she can to maintain a normal life. She’s succeeding, too. She spends her days working at Maggie’s Café and her nights at the Zodiac, Harlem’s hottest speakeasy. Louise’s friends, especially her girlfriend, Rosa Maria Moreno, might say she’s running from her past and the notoriety that still stalks her, but don’t tell her that.
When a girl turns up dead in front of the café, Louise is forced to confront something she’s been trying to ignore—two other local Black girls have been murdered in the past few weeks. After an altercation with a police officer gets her arrested, Louise is given an ultimatum: She can either help solve the case or wind up in a jail cell. Louise has no choice but to investigate and soon finds herself toe-to-toe with a murderous mastermind hell-bent on taking more lives, maybe even her own....
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in 1926 Harlem, Afia's atmospheric debut and series launch introduces Louise Lloyd, a 26-year-old Black waitress who lives for nights spent drinking and dancing. After Louise punches a white patrolman to prevent a racially motivated arrest, she fears she's facing a prison sentence. Then Det. Theodore Gilbert extends an offer: help him catch the serial killer preying upon neighborhood Black girls, and he'll expunge her record. Louise will have an easier time of extracting information from victims' loved ones than Gilbert—a white Brit—and he already knows her to be brave and resourceful, since Louise escaped a kidnapper and freed her fellow captives when she was a teenager. Louise immerses herself in the case, taking increasingly big risks to uncover the truth as the body count climbs. Readers will root for intrepid, fiery Louise, who elevates the mystery despite a disjointed investigation and haphazard denouement. The author couples tender relationships with strong senses of era and place. Afia has made an auspicious start.
Customer Reviews
Excellent Harlem Renaissance mystery
This is a riveting story that explores the protective, survival spirit of a Black woman with a girlfriend in the 1920s, as well as the burdens that come with it all.
Yes Ma’am
For her debut book I am in love and can’t wait to finish and buy the the next versions of this novel.
Harlem Renaissance Murder Mystery
Captivating from the Prologue to the thrilling last page!!!I enjoyed this book particularly the way the author used imagery from a unique time period,and social injustices.I highly recommend this book and looking forward to reading more from this author.