In this historical mystery, set in Los Angeles in the 1930s, the sisters Chow, May and Gemma, discover the body of their childhood friend Lulu Wong. Not satisfied by the answers they are getting from the police, the girls decice to investigate Lulu’s murder. While Gemma tries to get a copy of the autopsy report, May has found a job as an extra on the movie in which Lulu was about to star. Her role was taken over by an actress who goes by the name Juanita – and she’s not Latina. Juanita is upset that everyone still keeps bringing up Lulu (she’s not as good as Lulu etc). May shines as an extra, in fact they are so impressed by her chemistry with the leading man that they offer her the lead in the film.
Gemma, meanwhile, has gotten her hands on a copy of the autopsy report and takes it to her acquaintance Dr. Freddie Winter with May in tow. They find out that Lulu died of a heart attack – and the police is convinced that the man known as Guitar Man in Chinatown scared Lulu with a turtle and this caused her death. May and Gemma are not sure this is the truth – they think it has to do with Lulu’s movie.
When May starts as the leading lady, she gets a note saying she’s next. Since Guitar Man is still behind bards, the girls are now certain he was not involved in Lulu’s death…
I really enjoyed this book, Gemma and May are clever and resourceful – like all of Stacey Lee’s heroines. I have really enjoyed all of her books so far – absolutely loved The Downstairs Girl. Kill Her Twice kept me guessing until the end!
Read for the Read Between the Lines Reading Challenge 2025
Prompt 23: A Book You Wanted to Read Last Year
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
