A review by allisonwonderlandreads
Dead Dead Girls by Nekesa Afia

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Dead Dead Girls is a 1920s historical mystery set on the streets of Harlem. Louise Lloyd earned local fame as a teenager when she freed herself from a kidnapper, rescuing her fellow prisoners in the process. A decade later, she does her best to sink into anonymity. She loves working in a cafe during the day, dancing the night away with her friends, and living in a boarding house where she can maximize time with her girlfriend, Rosa Maria. Louise's existence is thrown into disarray when she is conscripted by the police to help interview friends and family of victims in a recent spree of serial murders targeting Black girls in Harlem. Her role gets deeper and messier as Louise desperately tries to piece together the girls' lives and deaths. Although she gains a sense of purpose in trying to catch a murderer who is targeting girls much like her younger sisters or even herself, she regrets the loss of her carefree evenings as her sleuthing becomes all-consuming.

What I loved best about the story were the characters and the setting. The characters are intriguing and vivacious, Louise chief among them. Her found family is supportive and caring where her biological family has fraying bonds and animosities to contend with. She only retains a largely uncomplicated love for her younger twin sisters. Lou's romance is established, warm, and hopeful, even as the two women must consider how they can build a future together. The settings sparkle with clear detail and a sense of lived-in reality, from clubs to homes, cafes to crime scenes.

My only complaint has to do with the mystery pacing and explanation. I was fully invested for the first portion of the book, maybe even two-thirds of the story. The danger is always lurking, and Lou's twisty investigation turns up more questions than answers. In the latter part, there's a bit of waiting and then an abrupt final showdown. I don't feel like all the clues were rounded up or connected in a narrative to give things a sense of closure. False trails were left dangling rather than showing where they led if not to murder.

I am interested to see where the story goes next and find out how Louise's life adjusts in the aftermath of her second brush with celebrity. I would love to see how the characters continue to grow and peek into history yet again.
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