Dead to Me

by Mary McCoy

[bookishzelda]

Dead to Me is obviously a YA but it reads like an old crime novel. Which Alice actually references quite a bit. I think even if you didn’t normally read YA you would enjoy this because of the mystery involved. Of course Alice is limited to her age of how much she can do but she still manages to be her own PI. Plus I loved the setting of the old late 1940s Hollywood. Alice even references the Black Dahlia murder.

That phrase “the heir and the spare” comes to mind when I think of Alice. Unfortunately she lives in her sister Annie’s shadow. The one that was pretty, the one that could sing. However there are advantages to Alice being in the shadows. Being ignored and invisible has taught her to be an impeccable people watcher and much more observant of her surroundings. People also underestimate her, so still thinking of her as a child. Alice is actually intelligent and clever. After her sister's disappearance she became a bit of recluse, which makes her have this very dry way of talking. She is more matter of fact and to the point. She’s managed to close herself off but after Annie is found beaten, she starts to change as she searches for her attacker.

There is really no romance in the book but it’s not necessary at all. In fact even Alice bond with Annie is analysed. It’s interesting to see how Alice really comes into her own, discovering that she is her own person. She also has a really great friend who she sadly ends up neglecting but is still there if Alice needs her. I loved that aspect as well because I hope we all have that friend, I know I do.

So the plot was really addicting. There were things that I figured out early on and some things I did not. It was engaging the entire time because even though there was a big mystery to solve it involved all of these smaller pieces that fit together to make the big picture. I couldn’t put it down, I read it in about a day. I had to know what was going to happen next and how each person played into it. It was exposing this hidden underbelly of Hollywood at that time. Drug addicted movie stars, dirty cops, murder...it has it all.

I really loved the book and the setting (I’m thinking about 1948-49ish). Such a great read, especially if you're looking for something different and does revolve around a romance.