Kill Her Twice Book Review

Written By MK

Kill Her Twice by Stacey Lee book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS

Date: 4-21-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 6.9/10

Kill Her Twice book cover

Book Cover Rating: 8.7/10

(My personal opinion)

Title: Kill Her Twice

Author: Stacey Lee

Pages: 390

Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Subplots: Romance, Asian Heritage

Romance Level: 1/3

Publisher: Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Published: 2024

Number of Editions: 5

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audio

Goodreads Rating: 3.78/5

# of Goodreads Ratings: 1,929

Amazon Rating: 4.1/5

# of Amazon Ratings: 116

Common Sense Media Age Recommendation: 12+

Movie/TV Show?? : No

Book Type: Standard

POV Type: Multi, First Person

Pacing: Slow-Medium

Generally: Chinese Hollywood star murdered, Chinese girls investigate

Blurb:

Los Angeles, 1932: Lulu Wong, star of the silver screen and the pride of Chinatown, has a face known to practically anyone, especially to the Chow sisters—May, Gemma, and Peony—Lulu's former classmates and neighbors. So the girls instantly know it's Lulu whose body they discover one morning in an out-of-the-way stable, far from the Beverly Hills mansion where she moved once her fame skyrocketed.

The sisters suspect Lulu's death is the result of foul play, but the LAPD—known for being corrupt to the core—doesn't seem motivated to investigate. Even worse, there are signs that point to the possibility of a police cover-up, and powerful forces in the city want to frame the killing as evidence that Chinatown is a den of iniquity and crime, even more reason it should be demolished to make room for the construction of a new railway depot, Union Station.

Worried that neither the police nor the papers will treat a Chinese girl fairly—no matter how famous and wealthy—the sisters set out to solve their friend’s murder themselves, and maybe save their neighborhood in the bargain. But with Lulu’s killer still on the loose, the girls’ investigation just might put them square in the crosshairs of a coldblooded murderer.



My Review

Main Characters:

  1. Gemma Chow- Gemma Chow is one of the main characters of this book. She is an Asian girl living in Chinatown, LA. She is passionate, reckless, and hard working.

  2. May Chow- May is the other main character of this book. She is Gemma’s older sister. She tends to be more responsible. She has a habit of putting others needs above her own.

    Gemma and May were great characters!! They were unique, driven, and faced struggles. They felt dynamic, but there was one significant part that felt unrealistic to me. That being said, they still both had AMAZING character development.

Character Rating: 8.6/10

Setting:

This book takes place in Chinatown, LA.

Wow!! This was an AMAZING setting. A significant part of this plot was based on Chinatown, and its possible future destruction. It was well described and transportive. Stacey Lee did a GREAT job with this!!

Setting Rating: 9.6/10

Plot:

This was an interesting plot. To be honest, I never even CONSIDERED some of the key struggles and points of this book. It certainly opened my eyes. The mystery/plot in specific though, did feel a little chaotic to me. The pacing was fairly uneven and sporadic.

Plot Rating: 5.6/10

Writing:

I’ve been reading some books with FABULOUS writing recently, so I might be biased. But to be honest, there were a good deal of intricacies and details I felt this book was missing. Overall the writing was good, but nothing compared to some of my favorites. But, this could totally be overly judgmental and biased of me (I always feel AWFUL criticizing an author’s writing in particular because I can appreciate just how much work goes into writing a book, so really writing anything is SUPER impressive).

Writing Rating: 5.0/10

Ending:

Wow!! That wrapped up quickly. This ending seemed a little unrealistic to me. It also left a couple small plot holes. Generally, I’m satisfied with how this ended, but would love for a few aspects to be different.

Ending Rating: 6.0/10

The Overall:

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It opened my eyes up to a few topics I hadn't considered, and was an enjoyable read. The setting and characters were especially AMAZING. But, some of the details and specifics were missing. Parts of this book felt unrealistic to me, and the pacing was off. Non-critics would probably really enjoy this book, but if small details are important to you, it might not be quite as enjoyable for you.


Overall Book Rating: 6.9/10

I would maybe recommend this book



Help independent bookstores by buying on Bookshop: Kill Her Twice

Or buy on Amazon: Kill Her Twice


ChatGPT’s Opinion: Kill Her Twice is a richly layered historical mystery set in 1930s Los Angeles, following three Chinese-American sisters who investigate the murder of a former classmate and Hollywood starlet, Lulu Wong. Stacey Lee masterfully blends atmospheric world-building, compelling characters, and a gripping plot that explores themes of racism, community, and sisterhood. The dynamic between the Chow sisters is particularly strong, and the vivid portrayal of Chinatown during the Depression era adds depth and authenticity. While the pacing can be slow at times and the plot occasionally complex, the novel delivers an emotionally resonant and thought-provoking story that’s both engaging and socially relevant. Fans of historical fiction with a strong sense of place and purpose will likely find this a standout read.

  • Stacey has been a featured speaker at the Texas Library Association annual conference, The American Library Association’s national convention, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) annual convention, the Boston Book Festival, the International Reading Association’s annual convention, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators annual conference, among other venues. She has presented extensively for both adults and children at numerous middle schools, high schools, universities, colleges, libraries, and other book events, including giving a Tedx talk.

    • Luck of The Titanic

    • The Downstairs Girl

    • Outrun the Moon

    • Under a Painted Sky

    • The Secret of a Heart Note

    • The Radical Element

    • At Midnight: 15 Beloved Fairy Tales Reimagined

    • Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies

    • Winston Chu vs. the Wingmeisters

  • Goodreads

What did you think of this book??

MK https://alltruereviewsbymk.com
Previous

The Counselors Book Review
Next

Five Survive Book Review