The Debutantes Published by St. Martin's Publishing Group on October 29, 2024
Genres: Young Adult Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories, Young Adult Fiction / Thrillers & Suspense / Crime
Pages: 352
Find the Author: Website, Goodreads, Amazon, Instagram
Goodreads
Reading Challenges: Netgalley BacklistJessica Goodman meets The Agathas in this taut, twisty YA thriller set in the glittering world of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where secrets--and bodies--never stay buried.
For the New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is sure to be the social event of the season—if they can avoid another dead Queen. When debutante Margot Landry was found dead the morning after her reign at last year’s ball, it was a tragedy, but not a shocking one. Margot was a wild child with a self-destructive streak, nothing like this year’s Queen, Lily LeBlanc. With a perfectly poised debutante on the throne, everything is going according to plan...until the ball is hijacked by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the Maids on her royal court—her best friend, Vivian; her boyfriend's sister, Piper; and April, her former frenemy—asking them all to meet the next morning. But Lily never shows up.
On the surface, these three debutantes don’t have anything in common except their exclusive private school and their ties to Les Masques. But soon, they realize why Lily brought them together: something dark is lurking beneath the glamorous surface of the debutante world, and it might be the reason she disappeared. And the further the girls dig, the more they begin to suspect that Margot's death may not have been an accident—and that Lily may be next. When the Jester starts threatening to expose their own secrets, this unlikely trio must team up to uncover the monsters behind the Mardi Gras masks—before they’re left with another dead debutante.
Review:
The Debutantes was a fast-paced thriller that shows the dark and mysterious side of secret societies and the debutante world in New Orleans, filled with these elements as a part of history and culture. The author knows New Orleans – not just the touristy places but also the society and history. The Krewes are the ultimate in rich people’s not-so-secret societies, and I love what the author does with them—told from several of the girls’ perspectives as they try to find Lily and what truly happened to Margot the night of the ball. This book had so many twists and turns that I was truly surprised by the ending. The mystery is taut and compelling, and the setting is eerie and vivid! If you are looking for a mystery/ thriller that is more on the young adult side. I would highly recommend this book.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Netgalley Backlist
This one is on my TBR, glad to hear it was good. I love New Orleans, so books set there always intrigue me. Great review!